iEx  ICthria 


SEYMOUR  DURST 


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THE 

ORIGINAL 

STEAMBOAT 

SUPPORTED; 

A  REPLY 

T  0 

Mr.  JAMES   RUMSEY's  PAMPHLET, 

SHEWING  THE 

TRUE  PRIORITY 

0  F 

JOHN  FITCH, 

A  W  D    T  H  E 

FALSE        ©    A    T    [    N    G  S, 

0  F 

JAMES     R   U  M  S  E  Y, 


PHILADELPHIA: 

PRINTED   BY    ZACHARIAH   POULSON,  JUNk.   ON  THE 
WEST   SIDE   OF   FOURTH-STREET;  BETWEEN 
MARKET    AND    ARCfl  STREETS. 


M  D  C  C  L  XX  XVIII. 


P55 


P   R  E   F  ACE. 

AGREEABLY  to  a  promise  made  in  (be  Iiidepenclaiit  GazeUeer, 
I  now  present  to  the  Public  a  reply  to  the  Pamphlet  published 
by  M'\  Rumsev,of  Virginia,- — and  as  I  have  n®  matter  to  conceal, 
ot  disguise.^  and  wish  my  Readers  to  have  a  full  and  fair  view  of 
the  whole  controversy,  I  have  reprinted  and  annexed  M'.  Rumseys 
PamphUet^  which  will  discover,  to  every  impartial  person  who  will 
take  the  trouble  to  examine  the  subject,  that  he  hath  no  sort  of  ju.st 
pretensions  to  the  claims  he  hath  exhibited. — His  skill  in  the 
mechanism  of  a  Steam  Engine,  may  possibly  be  greater  than  mine, 
and  in  the  article  of  Condensation  I  freely  acknowledge  he  is  my 
superior .  ha\ang  acquired  the  art  of  condmsing  (  with  the  dash  of 
his  pen)  one  whole  year  into  the  compass  of  six  days. 

JOHN  FITCH 

Philadelphia,  10«^  May,  1788. 


THE 

ORIGIN  AL 

STEAM-BOAT 

SUPPORTED,  &c. 


It  is  the  duty  of  every  man  not  only  to  avoid  the  commiss:oP 
of  a  crime,  but  so  to  conduct  himself  through  life  as  to  bear  the 
strictest  scrutiny. 

In  a  Pamphlet  published  by  James  Rumsey  and  lately 
circulated  in  this  City,  as  well  as  probably  in  other  States^  I  am 
charged  as  the  perpretator  of  crimes  attrocious  in  their  nature,  but 
of  which  my  conscience  fully  acquits  me.  It  is  an  exercise  of 
malevolence  in  the  extreme  thus  publicly  to  prefer  charges  against 
an  innocent  person  without  previously  knowing  or  enquiring  for 
the  defence  of  the  supposed  offender,  and  shows  an  inability  in  the 
accuser  to  support  his  charges.  Unfortunately  for  M^.  Rumsey, 
I  trust  we  are  now  before  an  impartial  Public,  where  Justice, 
unbiassed  by  party  or  undue  influence,  will  decide  between  us — 
Conscious  of  my  conduct,  in  the  prosecution  of  this  business,  beinp; 
that  of  an  honest  man,  it  is  incumbent  on  me  to  recite  the 
circumstances,  and  facts  relative  thereto. 

I  confess  the  thought  of  a  Steamboat,  which  struck  me  by  mere 
accident,  about  the  middle  of  April  1785,*  has  hitherto  been  very 
unfortunate  to  me ;  the  perplexities  and  embarrassments  throusb 
which  it  has  caused  me  to  wade,  far  exceed  any  thing,  that  the 
commoa  course  of  life  ever  presented  to  my  view.    After  pondering" 


VOL.  II. 


*  Vide  No.  1  and  2. 

66 


1042 


EARLY  STEAM 


pome  dayj  ob  the  thought,  I  made  a  rough  draught,  but  not  daring 
to  trust  my  own  opinion  too  far,  I  consulted  M^  Daniel  Longstreth, 
the  Rev<*.  Nathaniel  Irvin  and  sundry  other  Gentlemen  of  Bucks 
county  Pennsylvania. 

About  the  beginning  of  June  1785,  I  went  to  Philadelphia  and 
shewed  it  to  D^.  Ewing,  Patterson  and  other  respectable 
characters  in  the  city,  from  whom  I  met  with  no  discouragement. 
In  June  and  July  I  formed  models  and  in  August  laid  them  before 
Congress,  as  will  appear  on  their  Files.  In  September  I  presented 
thera  to  the  Philosophical  Society,  as  per  certificate. 

N*.  3. 

Philadelphia  1785. 

September  27*1'.  3785.  At  a  special  meeting  of  the  American 
Philosophical  Society  : 

A  model  accompanied  with  a  drai^^ing  and  description  of  a 
machine  for  working  a  boat,  against  the  Stream,  by  means  of  a 
Steam  Engine,  was  laid  before  the  Society  by  John  Fitch. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  American  Philosophical  Society,  on 
December  1785. 

A  copy  of  the  drawing  and  description  of  a  machine  for  working 
a  boat  against  the  current,  which,  some  time  ago,  was  laid  before 
the  Society  by  M"^.  John  Fitch,  he,  this  evening,  presented  to 
them. 

Extract  from  the  Minutes 

SAMUEL  MAGAW 

One  of  the  Secretaries, 

In  October  I  called  on  the  ingenious  Mr.  Henry,  of  Lancaster, 
to  ta  e  his  opinion  of  my  drafts,  who  informed  me,  that  I  was  n»t 
the  first  person  who  had  thought  of  applying  Steam  to  vessels;  that 

ne  had  conversed  with  Andrew  Ellicott  as  early  as  the  year  1775, 
and  that  Paine,  author  of  Common  Sense,  had  suggested  the 
same  thing  to  him  in  the  winter  of  1778  ;  that  some  time  after,  be 
(M.''  Henry)  thinking  more  seriously  of  the  matter,  was  of  opinion 
it  migjht  be  easily  perfected  and  accordingly  made  some  drafts 
might  be  proposed  to  lay  before  the  Philosophical  Society  and 
which  he  theB  showed  me,  but  added  as  he  had  neglected  to  bring 


NAVIGATIOW. 


1043 


them  to  public  view,  and  as  I  had  first  published  the  plan  to  the 
world;  he  would  lay  no  claim  to  the  invention.  The  following  I 
have  been  favored  with  fro«i  M''  Ellicott: 

N*^  4. 

Battimore,  AprU  2lbth  1788. 
r  do  hereby  certify,  that  early  in  the  year  one  thousand,  seven 
hundred  and  seventy  five,  William  Henry,  of  Lancaster,  con- 
versed vdXh  me  on  the  subject  of  steam  and  intimated  that  he 
thought  it  might  be  advantageously  applied  to  the  Navigation  of 
Boats.  (Signed) 

ANDREW  ELLICOTT. 
From  Lancaster  I  went  to  the  Assembly  of  Virginia,  first 
watting  on  Governor  Johnson,  of  Maryland,  who,  notwithstanding 
the  letters  he  has  since  written  in  favour  of  Rumsey,  acknowl- 
edged a  merit  in  my  invention,  and  that  it  ought  to  be  encouraged, 
as  will  presently  appear.  During  my  journey  through  Maryland, 
m  October,  I  passed  through  Frederick  Town,  and  every  where 
published  my  Plan.  In  Virginia  I  waited  on  his  Excellency 
General  Washington,  who,  in  the  course  of  conversation,  informed 
me,  that  the  thought  of  applying  stej^ra  was  not  original,  that  M' 
Rumsey  had  mentioned  Steam  to  him;  but  nothing  that  passed  in 
the  conversation  with  General  Washington  had  the  least  tendency 
to  convey  the  idea  of  M^  Rumsey's  relying  on  Steam,  and  General 
Washington's  letter,  page  10,  in  M*"  Rumsey's  Pamphlet,  clears 
up  the  matter — for  the  General  himself  did  not  conceive  any  such 
thing.  Knowing  that  the  thought  of  applying  Steam  to  Boats  had 
been  suggested  by  other  Gentlemen  long  before^  I  left  his  Excel- 
lency General  Washington  with  all  the  elated  prospects  that  an 
aspiring  projector  could  entertain,  not  doubting  but  I  should  reap 
the  full  benefit  of  the  project,  for  although  I  found  that  some  had 
conceived  the  thought  before,  yet  I  was  the  first  that  ever  exhibited 
a  plan  to  the  public;  and  was  fully  convinced  that  I  could  not 
interfere  with  M^  Rumsey,  otherwise  the  known  candor  of  General 
Washington  must  have  pointed  out  to  me  such  interference.  I 
immediately  applied  to  the  Legislature  of  Virginia  for  assistance, 
to  execute  my  plan,  who  signified  their  wish  to  encourage  my 
designs,  but  tiiat  the  state  of  their  finances  prevented  it — the  then 
Govornor  of  the  state,  Patuek  Henry,  Esq'  received  Worn  me  an 


1044 


EAKLY  STEAJVI 


obligation  with  provision,  that  if  T  procured  in  that  state  a  sale  foi 
one  thousand  or  my  Maps  of  the  N.  W.  part  of  the  United  States, 
at  6/8  each,  I  should  exhibit  a  Steam  Boat  on  the  waters  of 
Virginia,  within  nine  months  or  forfeit  and  pay  to  the  State  of 
Virginia  j£350.  as  appears  by  the  following  certificate: 

No.  6. 

I  certify  that  John  Fitch  has  left  in  my  hands  a  bond  payable  to 
the  Governor  for  the  time  being  for  £350.  conditioned  for 
exhibiting  his  steam  Boat  when  he  receives  subscriptions  for  1000 
of  liis  maps,  6/8  each, 

November  l6tii  1785. 

(Signed)  P.  Henry. 

I  then  returned  to  Maryland  and  acquainted  Governor  Johnson 
of  my  expected  assistance  in  Virginia,  and  that  I  intended  applying 
to  the  Assembly  of  Maryland  then  sitting,  to  promote  and  patronise 
my  scheme — Governor  Johnson  gave  me  the  following  Letter  to 
General  Small  wood,  the  then  Governor  of  the  state. 

No.  7. 

Frederick  Toum  November  25th  1785.  . 

SIR 

M'  John  Fitch  of  Bucks  county,  in  Pennsylvania,  called  on  me 
in  his  way  to  Richmond;  he  has  gone  through  a  variety  of  scenes 
in  the  back  country,  which  has  enabled  him  to  collect  a  knowledge 
of  a  great  part  of  the  new  states,  on  which  and  other  helps  he  has 
made  a  map  useful  and  entertaining;  his  ingenuity  in  this  way 
strongly  recommends  him,  but  his  genius  is  not  confined  to  tbis 
alone,  he  has  spent  much  thought  on  an  improvement  of  the  Steam- 
engine,  by  w^hich  to  gain  a  first  power,  applicable  to  a  variety  of 
uses,  amongst  others  to  force  vessels  forward  in  any  kind  of  water; 
if  this  engine  can  be  simplified,  constructed  and  made  to  work  at 
a  small  expense,  there  is  no  doubt  but  it  will  be  very'  useful  in 
most  great  works,  and  amongst  them  in  ship  building.  M^  Fitch 
wants  to  raise  money  to  make  an  experiment  on  Boats,  the  counten- 
ance that  he  has  met  with  in  Virginia  he  hopes  will  enable  him  to  do 
it,  he  wishes  also  to  make  other  experiments,  and  is  willing  to  enter 
into  engagements  to  apply  a  large  proportion  of  the  sales  of  his  maps, 
his  principle  fund.  I  believe  his  passion  for  this  improvement  will 
be  ample  security  for  his  applying  the  money  in  that  way; — all 


NAVIGATION 


1045 


that  I  have  to  request  of  you  Sir,  is,  that  you  will  give  him  an 
opportunity  to  converse  with  you,  you  will  soon  perceive  he  is  a 
man  of  real  genius  and  modesty,  your  countenancing  him  will 
follow  of  course.  I  am  Sii^ 

Your  Excellency's 
(Subscribed)  most  obedient  and  most  humble 

His  Excellency  Governor  Smallwood.  Servant 

Favor  of  THO^  JOHNSON. 

Mr  Fitch. 

From  hence  it  plainly  appears  that  Governor  Johnson  could  not 
at  that  time  have  any  idea  of  my  scheme  interfering  with  Mr. 
Ramsey's  as  seems  to  be  now  insinuated  in  that  gentlemans  letter 
to  Mr.  Rumsey,  N<>.  14  of  his  Pamphlet. 

I  attended  the  session  of  the  legislature  about  three  weeks  after 
receiving  this  letter,  and  on  ray  petition  for  assistance  to  execute 
my  plan,  they  made  me  the  following  report  or  nearly  in  these 
words  (as  may  appear  by  examining  their  minutes)  "  However 
desirous  it  is  for  liberal  and  enlightened  legislators  to  encourage 
useful  arts,  yet  the  state  and  condition  of  our  finances  are  such 
that  there  can  be  no  advance  of  public  money  at  present."  From 
this  report  it  is  proved  beyond  all  doubt,  that  the  Assembly  of 
Maryland  did  not  conceive  my  plan  the  same  as  Mr.  Rumsey's — 
finding  that  I  was  undoubtedly  the  first  person  in  America  that 
could  be  termed  the  inventor  of  a  steam  Boat,  either  agreeably  to 
custom,  or  equity,  I  thought  it  prudent  to  apply  to  the  different 
states  for  the  exclusive  privileges  for  the  emoluments  of  such 
invention,  which  were  granted  by  New  Jersey  in  March  1786  by 
DelaAvare,  New-York  and  Pennsylvania,  in  the  wmter  and  spring 
fo^l0^^ing,  and  by  Virginia  in  October  1787.  * 

I  have  from  the  time  of  my  first  thought  pursued  my  scheme 
with  unremitted  application,  without  a  suspicion  of  an  interruption, 
until  the  circulation  of  Mr.  Rumsey's  invidious  Pamphlets,  the 
contents  of  which  I  now  find  it  necesssary  to  take  under  considera- 
tion, not  doubting  but  that  the  design  and  tendency  of  that  pro- 
duction will  be  a  sufl&cient  apology  for  the  plainness  with  which  I 
shall  treat  it. 

Mr.  Rumsey  says  in  page  2,  "That  in  the  month  of  September,  1784 


1046 


EARLY 


we  exhibited  the  model  of  a  Boat  to  his  Excellency  General  Wash- 
ington at  Bath  in  Berkeley  county,  calculated  for  stemming  the 
current  of  rapid  rivers  only^  constructed  on  principles  very  different 
from  (his)  present  one;  satisfied  of  the  experiment  of  her  making  way 
against  a  rapid  stream  by  the  force  of  the  stream  the  General  was 
pleased  to  give  me  a  most  ample  certificate  of  her  efficacy.^'  Here 
it  is  to  be  observed,  that  no  mention  was  made  to  General  Wash- 
mgton  of  steam  at  the  time  of  such  exhibition  ;  the  principles  on 
which  the  Boat  was  propelled,  were  entirely  unconnected  with, 
and  distinct  from  steam  ;  being  simply  a  model  propelled  by  water 
wheels,  cranks,  and  setting  poles ;  a  mode  which  was  many  years 
ago  tried  on  the  river  Schuylkill  by  a  farmer  near  Reading,  but 
without  success.  From  an  exhibition  of  this  plan  it  was  that  M*". 
Rumsey  procured  the  certificate  from  General  Washington,  and 
on  that  certificate  were  Mr.  Rumsey's  laws  founded.  In  his  peti- 
tions to  the  several  legislatures,  he  prayed  for  no  exclusive  right, 
for  the  use  of  Steam  Boats ;  neither  did  he  make  mention  of  Steani, 
to  their  committees ;  or  even  suggest  an  idea  of  the  kind  ;  as  proof 
of  which,  I  offer  the  following  petition  to  the  Assembly  of  Penn- 
sylvania, the  certificate  from  General  Washington,  accompanying 
it,  and  the  certificate  of  Manuel  Eyre,  Esquire,  who  was  one  of 
the  committee  of  Assembly,  who  reported  in  M^'.  Rumsey's  favor. 

N*.  8. 

I  have  seen  the  model  of  Rumsey's  Boats,  constructed  to 
work  against,  streams :  examined  the  powers  upon  which  it  acts, 
been  eye  witness  to  an  actual  experiment,  in  running  water  of 
some  rapidity  ;  and  give  it  as  my  opinion  (although  I  had  little 
faith  before)  that  he  has  discovered  the  art  of  working  boats  by 
mechanism  ami  small  manual  assistance  against  rapid  currents; 
that  the  discovery  is  of  vast  importance ;  may  be  of  the  greatest 
usefulness  in  our  inland  navigation ,  and,  if  it  succeeds,  of  which 
I  liave  no  doubt,  that  the  value  of  it  is  greatly  enhanced  by  the 
simplicity  of  the  works,  which  when  seen  and  explained  may  be 
executed  by  the  most  common  mechanic. 

Given  under  my  hand  at  the  town  of  Bath,  County  of  Berkeley 
itt  the  State  of  Virginia  this  7lh  of  September  1784 

GFK>RGF.  WASHrNGTON. 


KAVlSATJOIf. 


mi 


9. 

T9  the  Honourable  the  Rqw  esmtatives  of  th't  State  of  Pen^sylvmm 

m  General  Assembly  met. 
Gentlemen, 

Whereas  your  petitioner  has  formed  a  plan  for  facilitatijig  the 
navigation  of  rapid  rivers ;  he  therefore  d©th  propose  to  construe 
a  certain  species  of  Boats  of  the  burthen  of  ten  tons  which  shall 
sail  or  be  propelled  bj  the  combined  influence  of  certain  mechamcftl 
powers  thereto  applied,  the  distance  of  between  twenty-five  and 
forty  miles  per  day,  against  the  current  of  a  rapid  river^  notwith- 
standing the  velocity  of  the  water  should  move  at  the  rate  of  five 
miles  per  hour  and  upwards,  with  the  burthen  often  tonsoa  board, 
to  be  wrought  at  no  greater  expense  than  that  of  three  hands  ;  and 
as  a  premium  of  so  useful  an  invention,  your  petitioner  prays  for 
an  act  to  pass  this  honorable  house,  granting  to  your  petitioner, 
his  heirs  and  assigns,  the  sole  and  exclusive  right  of  constructujg, 
navigating  and  employing  boats  constructed  upon  his  new  invented 
model  upon  each  and  every  oreek,  river,  bay,  inlet  and  har))our 
within  the  limits  and  jurisdiction  of  this  commonwealth^  for  and 
during  the  term  of  ten  years,  fully  to  be  completed  and  ended >  to 
be  computed  from  the  first  day  of  January  next ;  provided  always, 
that  the  legislature  of  this  commonwealth  may,  at  any  time  within 
the  term  aforesaid,  abolish  the  exclusive  right  herein  prayed  for  by 
the  payment  of  ~  pounds  in  gold  or  silv^^r.  And  your  petitioner, 
as  in  duty  bound,  shall  pray 

JAMES  R.U.MS.RY. 

The  foregoing  is  a  true  copy  of  the  original  petition  reniftining 
on  the  files  of  the  General  Aa^mbJy  aad  read  ij*  the  house 
NoTeml>er26,  1784. 

J.  SHALLUS,  Jst.  Clk. 

N»  10. 

This  may  certify  that  I  the  subscriber  was  in  Assembly  for  the 
year  1784,  and  was  appointed  one  of  the  commiltee  to  report  or 
Mi^  James  Ramsey's  petition  for  his  boat  to  g»  ^gainsi  the  s(refiinh 
©jf  rapi^l  riven^  att4  tfcat  there  was  )i»  )«e«iti*H  »{#r  any  idea  held 


1048 


EARLY  STRAM 


up  to  the  committee  that  it  was  to  be  propelled  by  the  force  of 
steam. 

(Signed) 

MANUEL  EYRE. 

Now  I  ask,  whether  it  does  not  amount  to  a  positive  proof  that 
M''  Rumsey  had  no  sort  of  reference  to,  or  dependence  on  Steam T 
General  Washington  says,  "It  is  so  simple  thdii  it  maybe  executed  by 
the  most  common  mechanic  f  which  certainly  his  excellency  v.'oukl 
not  have  said  of  a  Steam-Engine  ;  a  machine  that  has  cost  me  two 
years  to  understand  and  cornpleat.  If  we  examine  the  Petition,  we 
shall  find,  that  it  confirms  the  General's  idea  of  simplicity  ;  for 
M'"  Rumsey  says  "  it  may  be  wrought  at  no  greater  expense  than  that 
of  three  hands,"  plainly  indicating,  that  the  expense  of  fre  was 
not  in  contemplation  ;  and  to  put  the  matter  out  of  all  doubt, 
Eyre  declaresj  "  There  was  no  idea  held  up  to  the  committee  that  it 
was  to  be  propelled  by  Steam^ 

All  Rumsey 's  laws  w^ere  obtained,  in  consequence  of  his 
model,  shewn  to  General  Washington  at  Bath ;  which,  as  I  have 
said,  was  nothing  but  water  wheels,  cranks  and  setting  poles; 
therefore  he  could  have  no  pretension  to  the  use  of  Steam,  under 
those  laws.  With  the  same  propriety,  his  claim  might  extend  to 
every  power,  and  every  machine  in  the  United  States ;  as  soon  as 
any  man  had  invented  one  that  would  suit  his  purpose.  So  that 
upon  his  plan  of  law  making,  no  other  man  would  be  safe  in  expending 
his  money,  but  all  must  be  swallowed  up  by  his  pretendedly 
ambiguous  laws.  But  I  am-  happy  in  knowing,,  that  Jiis  laws  as 
well  as  his  claims^  cannot  interfere  wiihmine,  for  had  he  professed 
any  reliance  on  Steam  ;  or  any  intention  to  fipply  it  to  his  boats,  he 
certainly  would  not  have  neglected  inserting  so  important  a  part  of 
the  scheme,  in  his  petitions  to  the  different  legislatures.  Nor  would 
he  have  prayed  to  be  invested  with  the  exclusive  privilege,  to  use 
boats,  constructed  on  such  diiTerent  principles  from  those  he  really 
intended  to  pursue.  In  M'  Rumsey's  act  passed  in  Pennsylvania, 
it  is  stiled  "  The  exclusive  right  of  constructing,  navigating  and 
employing  boats  built  and  to  be  built  on  his  new  invented  mode," 
and  this  new  invented  mode  (viz,  cranks,  water  wheels  and  setting 
poles)  is  all  he  was- entitled  to  under  that  law.    Can  it  be  -supposed 


NAVIGATION. 


1049 


that  the  legislature  would  not  have  included  Steam  in  their  laws 
if  they  had  been  informed  by  M^.  Rumsey  that  if  was  his  grand 
dependence  ;  the  essential,  the  vital  part  of  his  scheme  as  he  now 
professes.  That  they  had  no  such  intimation  given  them,  is  very 
evident  from  their  encouragement  to  me  ;  and  the  laws  since  passed 
are  the  fullest  proofs  of  the  received  meaning  of  M^  Rumsey's 
petition,  viz.  that  they  had  no  connection  with  steam.  And  that 
M^'  Rumsey  did  not  think  himself  misunderstood j  must  certainly  be 
granted ;  because  he  made  no  objection  to  any  of  my  petitionsj  as 
interfering  with  his  Laws,  which,  agTeeable  to  his  own  declarations, 
were  founded  on  principles  very  different  from  a  Steam-boat  That 
he  had  no  claim  to  Steam  under  his  laws,  is  evident,  from  his 
confession  in  page  4,  line  31,  where  he  says  I  find  my  idea  of 
Steam  wa«  nearly  matured  before  Steam  had  ever  entered  his  head 
oy  his  confession  to  Governor  Johnson  viz.  April  1785."  Now 
can  it  be  supposed  that  M"^  Rumsey  had  made  considerable  improve" 
merits  on  Steam-engines  in  1784,  or  that  he  had  obtained  laws 
securing  a  right  to  the  use  of  Steam  to  Boats,  Avhen  at  the  time 
of  his  petitioning  for,  and  the  passing  of  those  laws,  he  confesses 
his  idea  of  Steam  was  not  matured. 

He  says  in  page  3,  line  1,  In  the  course  of  that  fall  and  winter 
(of  1784)  he  made  progress  in  some  Steam-engines,  and  page  16 
line  7,  of  Governor  Johnsons  letter,  "  I  think  in  October  1785,  you 
told  me  you  relied  on  Steam  for  your  first  power,  and  wished  me 
to  promote  your  having  some  cyHnders  cast  at  my  brother's  and 
my  works;  the  attempt  did  not  succeed."  Speaking  of  General 
Washington,  the  Governor  adds  But  the  General  seems  to  have 
thought  it  an  immatccred  idea  that  he  did  riot  imagine  you  then 
relyed  on^^  {yiz.  in  November  1784.)  These  two  last  acknowl- 
edgements on  the  part  of  M*^  Rumsey,  must  destroy  the  facts 
ailed ged  in  the  first,  viz.  that  He  made  progress  in  Steam- 
engines  in  the  fall  and  winter  of  1784."  For  the  information  given 
to  General  Washington  in  confidence  respecting  the  boat,  was  such 
that  the  General  Did  not  think  he  then  relyed  on  Steam," 
which  is  fully  confirmed,  by  his  making  use  of  the  General's 
certificate  to  the  Assemblies,  wherein  the  discovery  is  treated  as 
being    enhanced  by  its  simplicity,  and  may  be  executed  by  the 


1050 


STEAM 


most  common  mecbanic^^  which  surely  no  person  would  say  of  a 
Steam  engine. 

His  application  to  Goyernor  Johnson  for  castings  for  a  Steam- 
engine,  is  insinuated  to  have  been  in  October  or  November  1785, 
which  I  must  deny,  and  refer  to  the  Governor's  own  letter  for  the 
proof  ;  being  confident  that  no  such  application  had  been  made  to 
that  gentleman  by  M'  Rumsey,  previous  to  my  obtaining  the  letter 
of  Recommendation  to  Governor  Smallwood,  But  even  had  it  been 
true  it  goes  no  further  back  than  October  or  November  1785, 
which  was  the  very  time  I  was  publishing  ray  plan  through 
Pennsylvania,  Maryland  and  Virginia,  and  was  near  three  months 
after  the  time  I  laid  it  before  Congress — And  yet  this  attempt  to 
have  a  cylinder  cast,  at  Governor  Johnson's  works  in  October  or 
November  1785,  is  the  first  essay  tow^ards  bringing  forward  a 
St^am-engine,  that  is  offered  in  proof,  admitting  it  to  have  been  at 
ilie  tm^ie  Governor  Johnson  supposes,  which  I  cannot  allow  for 
reasons  I  shall  presently  offer  in  addition  to  what  I  have  already 
said  on  this  head.  Then  how  are  we  to  reconcile  the  assertion  of 
M^"  Rumsey^s  having  made  considerable  progress  in  Steam-engines 
"  in  tlie  fall  or  winter  of  1784,"  when  it  appears  his  first  attempt 
(by  this  account)  was  not  made  until  October  or  November 
1785  as  mentioned  by  Governor  Johnson's  letter.  I  shall  hereafter 
show  to  a  demonstration,  beyond  all  possibility  of  doubt,  that  this 
same  engine,  said  to  have  been  completely  made  in  Frederick 
Town  in  December  1785,  was  not  begun  until  March  1786.  On 
comptring  Governor  Johnson's  letter,  sent  under  my  care  to 
General  Smallwood,  dated  November  25th,  1785,  (a  considerable 
time  after  I  first  explained  to  him  my  model  and  acquainted  him  of 
my  intentions  of  pursuing  the  scheme)  wdth  his  letter  to 
Rumsey,  dated  December  the  18th.  1787,  it  must  unavoidably  call 
in  que.stion  the  memcyt-y  or  candour  of  the  WTiter,  the  latter  I  most 
certainly  ought  to  acquit,  and  should  have  been  happy  had  I 
obtained  the  last  ex-planatim  on  this  head,  when  I  lately  made  a 
journey  to  his  house  ;  expressly  to  procure  it ;  possibly  it  may  stiJl 
be  rec-eived,  If  Governor  Johnson  knew,  and  believed  the  leg"al 
priority  of  M'"  Rumsey^s  claim,  tx?  a  Steam  boat,  and  was  entrusited 
Wi4i*  1M5  ^ecretj  bow  was  it  possible  be  oouid  have  encouraged  a 


1051 


man  9/  real  genius  and  vwd^sfif^  (as  he  was  pleaseJ  to  term  me) 
to  proceed  on  an  experiment,  which  terminate  as  it  woulo',  musi 
ine\^tably  end  m  loss  and  disappointment.  For  sliould  the  ex:pen 
ment  tail,  which  was  then  thought  very  doubtful,  the  small  fund, 
which  I  should  raise  by  the  sale  of  my  maps,  must  likewise  fail ; 
for  I  was  to  expend  it  in  Virginia  as  appears  by  Governor  Henry^s 
certificate  page  5.  Should  the  experiment  succeed  to  the  utmost 
of  my  wishes,  I  should  suffer  more  severely,  not  in  my  money  and 
time  only,  but  in  my  reputation  ;  and  meet  the  treatment  of  a  man 
trespassing  on  the  rights  of  a  fellow  citizen,  who  had  a  law  in  his 
favour.  Had  Governor  Johnson  at  the  time  he  encouraged  me, 
known  the  priority  of  claim  to  be  fairly  and  justly  in  M'^  Rumsey, 
had  he  been  then  in  possession  of  his  secret,  or  had  he  believed  any 
title  vested  in  M""  Rumsey,  to  the  exclusive  use  of  Steam,  under 
the  law  of  Maryland,  so  recently  passed  in  his  favor,  tke  Governor 
certainly  would  not  have  requested  a  gentleman  of  General  Small- 
wood^s  rank  to  countenance  me,  not  only  to  trespass  on  the  rights 
of  M""  Rumsey,  but  to  violate  a  law,  which  as  Governor  of  the  state 
he  was  bound  to  support,  Another  circumstance  corroborates  my 
assertion  of  misrelation  of  facts,  as  to  time. 

It  will  be  recollected  that  Governor  Johnson's  letter  recommend- 
ing me  so  very  minutely  and  warmly  to  the  patronage  of  Governor 
Smallwood,  was  dated  25th  November  1785,  And  in  his  letter  to 
Rumsey,  the  Governor  says,  In  October  or  November  1785 , 
you  told  me  you  relied  on  Steam  for  your  first  po vver  and  wished 
me  to  promote  your  having  some  castings  at  my  brother's  and  my 
works:  the  attempt  did  not  succeed — I  considered  myself  under  an 
obligation  to  secrecy,  'till  in  the  progress  of  making  copper 
cylinders  in  Frederick  Town,  some  time  after,  when  I  found  that 
the  designed  purpose  of  the  cylinder  was  a  subject  of  pretty  general 
conversation?'' — Now  the  Governor's  letter  in  my  favour  was  dated 
25th.  November  1785,  and  the  whole  machinery  is  sworn  to  have 
been  com  pleated  on  the  1st  December  following,  only  six  days 
after  the  time  of  my  getting  this  letter  of  recommendation — and 
a3  the  cylinder  was  a  subject  of  "  pretty  general  coiivei^tion/' 
I  could  not  have  been  kept  in  ignorance  by  the  Governor 
from  his    Obligation  to  secrecy*"  because  it  was  no  long^er  »  secret 


1052  *  EARLY  STEAM 

in  Frederick-town.  The  thing  was  impossible  in  its  nature,  that 
the  cylinders  and  copper  works  should  have  been  making,  and  a 
subject  of  general  conversation,  in  Frederick-town,  on  25th  day 
of  November  1785,  the  time  I  was  obtaining  my  letter  of  intro- 
duction to  Governor  Smallwood,  in  that  very  town  :  and  must  have, 
heard  it  myself  if  Governor  Johnson  had  been  so  disengenuous  as 
to  conceal  it  from  me;  which  is  absurd  to  suppose;  for  1  made 
my  business  publicly  known  in  that  town,  and  therefore,  if  M'. 
Rum'sey's  cylinders  were  the  subject  of  general  conversatioQ,  I 
must  have  heard  it  from  every  quarter;  therefore  it  clearly  follows, 
that  the  conversation  about  casting  of  the  cylinders,  the  obligation 
of  secrecy,  and  the  general  conversation  about  the  design  of  the 
cylinders  in  Frederick-town,  could  not  have  happened  in  the  year 
1785. — If  Mr.  Rumsey  had  made  Governor  Johnson  his  confident 
'}  In  October  or  November  1785,"  it  is  highly  improbable  that  he 
would  so  far  have  deceived  Mr.  Rumsey  and  me,  as  to  encourage 
my  pursuit  of  a  similar  nature,  within  so  short  a  time  as  six  days 
of  its  being  compleated. — And  it  is  equally  improbable  that  M^. 
Rumsey  should  have  communicated  this  secret  and  requested  his 
assistance  in  procuring  castings  immediately  after  my  being  with 
the  Governor,  as  there  was  not  time  for  it — the  engine  being  sworn 
as  I  have  said  to  have  been  all  compleated  six  days  after  that  visit — 
Then  the  following  conclusion  may  be  safely  drawn,  that 
Governor  Johnson  did  at  some  subsequent  day  (so  long  after  as 
that  he  forgot  the  letter  he  had  given  me)  offer  to  assist  M^.  Rumsey 
with  castings ;  which  not  succeeding,  an  application  was  made  to 
coppersmiths  in  Frederick-town  the  ensuing  spring,  who  in  the 
course  of  the  suinimer  1786,  delivered  their  work  to  M^'.  Rumsey. — 
About  this  time  it  was  that  the  matter  became  a  subject  of  "  general 
conversation — and  if  winter  stopped  the  putting  of  the  whole 
machinery  into  motion  as  V\ras  sworn  to  by  Messrs.  Barns  and 
Morrow,  it  was  the  winter  of  1786,  which  is  long  after  my  boat 
was  built,  and  my  model  of  a  Steam-engine  compleated. — Of  this 
my  readers  will  soon  be  fully  convinced — and  a  further  weighty 
proof  is — that  as  M*"  Rumsey  professes  his  hurr}'ing  on  his  engine 
was  on  account  of  my  setting  up  pretensionz,  it  cannot  be  believed 
that  he  would  suffer  my  oetition  to  lay  before  the  assembly  of 


NAVIGATION. 


1053 


Maryland,  and  be  reported  on  in  my  favour  about  the20lh  Decem- 
ber 1785,  nineteen  days  after  he  says  bis  boat  and  engine  were 
finished — M^.  Foy  the  member  from  Frederick-town  must  have 
told  the  tale,  and  laid  in  a  claim  for  his  countryman > — but  I  repeat 
it  again,  that  I  was  in  that  very  Frederick-town  on  my  way  to  the 
Assembly  in  the  fall  of  1785,  every  where  publishing  my  scheme, 
and  no  Engine  was  began  there  during  that  year,  nor  until  March 
following,  as  will  be  fully  shewn — but  before  I  come  to  ray  proofs 
T  wish  to  confute  him  out  of  his  own  waitings. 

Let  me  pursue  his  explanation  still  further,  and  ask,  what  could 
be  the  use  of  secresy  in  this  business,  if  M^.  Rumsey,  as  he  alledges, 
was  secured  in  the  use  of  the  invention  by  law  1  Could  he  expect 
any  countenance  from  the  public,  for  a  scheme  wraplJ^B  up  in 
secresy  and  which  is  confessed  by  Governor  Johnson  to  have 
remained  so  until  after  I  had  published  my  plauj  both  in  Maryland 
and  Virginia  —  M'".  Rumsey  and  his  confidential  friends  might 
have  died,  and  then  no  advantage  could  have  arisen  to  the  com- 
munity ;  and  until  such  advantage  was  pubHcly  imparted,  certainly 
nothing  could  be  expected  from  the  public. 

In  page  16  he  inserts  part  of  a  letter  from  General  Washington 
in  answer  to  his  of  the  10th.  March  1785  :  "  It  gives  me  much 
pleasure  to  find  by  your  letter,  that  you  are  not  less  sangiwu  in 
your  boat  project,  than  when  I  saw  you  at  Richmond,  and  that  you 
have  made  such  further  discoveries  as  will  render  them  more 
extensively  useful  than  was  at  first  expected'- — but  still  it  is  plain 
that  the  General  only  alluded  to  the  setting  pole  plan,  for  in  his 
answer  to  Governor  Johnson  (even  after  my  petition  was  before 
the  Assembly  of  Maryland)  he  still  thought  that  M^  Rumsey  had 
"No  reliance  on  Steam" — The  General's  saying  that  he  thought 
M^  Rumsey's  idea  of  steam  w^as  ^'  Immature''^  in  November,  1784 
(the  time  they  were  at  Richmond)  is  a  proof  that  M^  Rumsey's 
being  not  less  sanguine^^  must  have  alluded  to  his  setting  pole 
scheme  because  no  man  can  be  said  to  be  sanguine  in  any  thing 
of  which  he  has  but  '-An  immatured  idea^^ ;  and  Further 
discoveries^^  will  not  apply  to  Steam,  because  Steam  could  be  no 
new  discovery,  and  was  mentioned  to  the  genera-l  at  Richmond  ; 
nor  is  any  thing  mentioned  of  Steam  in  the  General's  Letter ;  at 


1054 


EARIiY  STKAM 


least  in  the  cxtmct.    ll  is  reasonable  to  snipposc,  if  Steam  ha<l 
been  the  dependable  discovery,  it  would  have  been  treated  on 
more  largely,  and  have  produced  a  more  pointed  answer  ;  the 
truth  is,  M'.  Rumsey  placed  no  dependance  on  Steam,  until  my 
phia  came  forward,  and  his  own  had  failed  ;  conscious  of  the 
weakness  of  his  claim,  and  the  futility  of  his  arguments  to  support 
il,  he  found  that  somcthiBg  more  was  necessary  than  merely  an 
ImTJiatuTed  idea'''';  therefore  to  add  weight  to  his  plea,  he  endea- 
vours to  establish  him  sell'  under  the  solemnity  of  oaths,  and 
attempts  to  prove,  that  the  machinery  for  his  Steam-engine,  was 
executed  In  Baltimore  and  Frederick- town,  so  as  to  be  compleated 
and  put  together  on  the  1^.  of  Becember  1785.    These  solemn 
ai\d  positive  declarations  are  contained  in  the  depositions  of 
Charles  Morrow  and  Joseph  Barns  (N©.  11  and  12  of  his  pamphlet) 
who  are  probably  interested  in  the  scheme.    The  reader  will 
please  to  examine  these  depositions  j  they  are  produced  to  support 
facts,  which  he  is  conscious  ought  to  have  existed  at  the  time  they 
specify,  otherwise  his  pretensions  would  consequently  fall.  These 
two  witnesses  testify  to  absolute  facts,  and  yet  affix  different 
periods  of  time  for  one  and  the  same  transaction.    Page  13.  line 
M,  of  Charles  Morrow's  deposition,  he  says  "About  the  first  of 
December  (1785)  it  appears  to  the  said  Charlee  that  the  whxile  of  the 
machinery  was  ready  to  be  fixed  to  the  boat  which  came  down  to 
the  falls  of  Shanandoah  for  experiment ;  but  the  ice  then  com- 
mencmg  prevented  it  for  the  winter      and  line  28  of  the  same 
deposition  he  says,  "  In  the  spring  of  1786,  the  machinery  was 
put  on  the  boat  and  the  first  trial  made,  said  Charles  being  on 
board,"  Page  15,  line  11  of  Joseph  Bamh  deposition  he  says, 
December  (1785)  it  was  {put  on  the  hcai)^  at  Shanandoah 
falls,^'    These  different  declarations  or  different  times  affixed,  at 
which  the  macliinery  was  piit  O'n  the  hoaij  of  themselves  tend  much 
to  destroy  the  validity  of  their  oaths .;  for  the  time  the  machinery 
was  put  on  board,  m\ist  have  been  a  fact,  so  notorious,  that  it 
could  not  admit  of  mistakej  m  a  mind  properly  impressed  with 
the  importance  of  an  oath.    In  page  10  &  11  William  Askew 
swears  that  M^.  Ramsey's  machinery  will  not  weigh  more  than 
eight  hundred  pounds,  and  that  he  is  well  con^inced  that  it  may 


iN  A  Vic;  AT  ION. 


I 

1055 


be  made  for  ^£20.  It  is  a  well  known  fact  that  of  M'.  Ruinsey'b 
machiaeryj  the  greatest  part;  must  corivsist  of  copper,  or  Brass  such 
as  cylinders;  tubes,  cocks  and  valves,  together  with  curious 
wrought  iron  ;  now  800  pounds  (were  it  all  made  of  Irmi)  could 
not  cost  less  than  double  the  sum.  As  this  evidence  is  not  brought 
to  prore  anything  about  M^".  Kumsey's  primiiy  it  is  of  no 
importance,  and  the  absurdity  it  contains  might  have  been  spared. 
Whether  his  machine  or  my  machine  are  best,  is  nothing  to  the 
purpose  3  I  have  been  daily  alteringj  and  never  watched  kis 
motions  and  blunders,  as*  it  is  evident  he  did  mine.  He  it  seems 
made  a  secret  of  his  doings,  whil^  mine  were  open  to  all  the 
workl. 

It  is  proper  I  should  not  pass  over  this  part  of  my  work, 
without  acknowledging,  that  I  have  been  greatly  indebted  to  the 
asi^istance  of  my  ingenious  friend  M^,  Henry  Voight  of  this  city  : 
who  has  uniformly,  from  my  first  undertaking  to  build  a  boat, 
allbrded  me  valuable  hints  ;  and  has  united  with  me  in  perfecting 
my  plans.  To  his  inventive  genius  alone,  I  am  indebted  for  the 
improvement  in  our  mode  of  creating  steam ;  a  thought  which  struck 
him  above  two  years  ago,  the  drawing  having  been  shewn  to  several 
persons  ;  for  we  never  made  a  secret  of  any  part  of  our  works; 
but  a  fear  of  departing  from  old  established  plans,  made  me 
fearful  of  adopting  it,  until  I  had  found  by  his  invention  of  creating 
sleam^  that  a  condenser  might  be  constructed  on  the  same  principles 
(viz  a  spiral  pipe  or  worm)  only  by  reversing  the  agent,  for  the 
best  way  of  applying  fire  to  evaporate  loater  into  steam^  must  also 
be  the  best  way  of  applying  cold  water  to  condense  steam^  that  is 
the  bringing  the  greatest  quantity  of  fire  into  action  upon  the 
greatest  surface  of  water — or  the  contrary — And  we  had  an 
additional  inducement  to  study  this'  subject  bacause  the  common 
way  of  fixing  boilers,  required  so  great  a  loarl  of  brick  work,  that 
it  over-loaded  our  boat.  Therefore,  the  first  tliought  that  mtist 
occur  to  every  man,  attempting  to  raise  steam  on  board  a  boat, 
must  be  to  acquire  that  method  which  would  require  the  least  weight. 
>Since  M*".  Rumsey  has  been  in  town  I  have  been  told,  that  he  says 
I  have  got  his  mode  of  creating  steam  j  whether  that  be  the  case  or 
not  (or  whether  he  has  got  mine)  \  do  not  at  present  know  But 


1056 


EARLY  STEAM 


as  both  M*".  Rumsey  and  M^.  Voight  laid  their  drawings  and  pians 
before  the  Philosophical  Society  the  same  day,  it  will  appear  how 
far  they  are  alike.  And  Voight  made  a  prior  entry  of  his 
plans  in  the  Prothonotary^s  ofTicp,  in  this  city.  .  If  there  should 
happen  to  beany  similarity  bii^een  them,  it  would  be  nothing 
surprising;  having  the  same  load  on  both  their  minds,  they  both 
sought  relief ;  and,  as  sick  persons,  lacking  a  doctor,  chance  might 
have  led  them  to  the  same  man  ;  and  I  had  an  undoubted  right  to 
apply  every  medicine  that  suited  the  disorder — but  I  will  proceed 
with  the  pamphlet. — 

In  page  17,  Henry  Bedinger  says,  that  M^".  James  Rumsey 
informed  him  in  or  before  the  month  of  March  1784,  that  he 
intended  to  give  a  trial  to  a  steam-boat,  and  he  believes  he 
mentioned  such  intention  of  M^  Rumsey's  in  Kentucky  ;  which 
seems  to  have  been  a  breach  of  honour,  as  it  must  be  supposed  M*\ 
Rumsey  gave  it  to  him  in  confidence  ;  for  he  treated  bis  idea  of 
Steam  as  a  secret  to  Governor  Johnson  long  after ;  thus  on  the 
disclosure  of  this  friend,  M^.  Rumsey  builds  a  charge  against  me 
as  having  filched  bis  scheme  in  Kentucky  ;  this  like  his  other 
charges  is  founded  in  falsehood,  for  it  is  a  well  known  fact,  that  I 
have  not  been  iuKentuckey  since  the  year  1781.  The  depositions 
of  George  Rootes,  N".  8,  and  Nicholas  Orrick,  10,  testifying 
to  his  having  informed  them,  in  the  year  1784,  of  his  projecting  a 
steam  boat  is  quite  useless  for  reasons  already  given.  Messrs 
Henry  and  Paine  'projected  it  before  him  ;  and  if  bare  'projection 
was  sufficient  to  build  a  claim  on,  I  have  no  doubt  but  there  are 
people  now  in  their  graves,  whose  heirs  might  set  up  more  early 
claims  than  either  of  us.  If  M'".  Rumsey  was  in  1784,  projecting 
a  boat  to  work  by  steam,  with  a  view  of  carrying  it  into  actual 
execution,  why  did  he  not  apply  for  the  use  of  steam  in  his  laws? 
the  reason  is  plain — General  Washington  gives  it  for  him,  it  was 
an  iimnatured  idea  and  on  which  he  thought  he  did  not  rely?''  I 
must  therefore  contend  that  these  depositions,  lose  their  weight, 
and  the  whole  of  his  conduct  proves  to  a  demonstration,  that  he 
could  not  have  been  engaged  in  making  steam  engines  at  the  time 
mentioned  by  those  witnesses,  with  a  view  of  applyuig  them  to  his 
boat.    In  page  20,  N".  18,  he  inserts  a  paragraph  of  a  letter  said 


NAVIGATION. 


1057 


to  have  been  written  by  a  Mr.  Dame).  Buckley^  near  Philadelphia, 
by  which  he  fixes  the  time  of  his  applying  himself  to  the  "perfecting  ^ 
his  steam  engine  with  much  ardour       In  part  of  said  inserted 
extract,   speaking  of  me  he  stiles    me,    "  A  M\  Fitch  of 
Philadelphia      now  this  letter,  if  the  facts  it  recites  are  true, 
must  have  been  written  after  the  17th.   of  April  1786,  and 
not  in  1786,  as  insinuated  by  M^'  Rumsey,  for  I  was  not  an  inhab- 
itant of  Philadelphia  until  after  that  period  ;  nor  did  I  ever  hear 
that  M'^  Rumsey  was  employed  in  making  a  steam  boat  until  long 
after  that  time  ;  consequently  I  could  not  have  used  any  expressions 
about  it  until  April  1786.    This  is  a  very  important  part  of  the 
prevarication,  and  carrying  the  air  of  great  plausibility,  I  must  beg 
my  Reader's  close  attention  to  it,  as  I  shall  prove  it  to  be  false. 
Page  3,  he  says,  ^'I  wrote  to  General  Washington  the  10th.  March 
1785,  that  I  intended  applying  both  powers  (meaning  steam  as 
one)  to  build  a  boat  after  the  model  of  one  he  saw,  at  Bath,  &c. 
and  as  I  could  gain  truth  only  by  successive  experiments,  mcredii/e 
delays  were  produced,  &c.    I  bore  the  pelting  of  ignorance  and 
ill-nature  with  all  resignation,  until  I  was  informed  some  dark 
assassins  had  endeavoured  to  wound  the  reputation  of  his  Excellency, 
and  the  other  gentlemen,  who  saw  my  exhibition  at  Bath,  for 
giving  me  a  certificate.    The  reflections  upon  these  worthy  gentle- 
men gave  me  inexpressible  uneasiness,  and  I  should  certainly  have 
quitted  my  steam  engines,  though  in  great  forwardness,  and  have 
produced  the  boat,  for  which  I  had  obtained  the  certificate,  for  their 
justification  and  my  own,  had  not  a  M""  Fitch  came  out  at  this  critical 
minute,  with  his  steam-boat,  asserting  that  he  was  the  first  inventor 
of  steam,  and  that  I  had  gotten  what  small  knowledge  I  had  from 
him,  &c."    Now  this  embarrassment  being  confessedly  subsequent 
^0  the  letter  to  General  Washington,  just  mentioned,  viz.  10th. 
March,  1785.    The  letter  asserted  to  have  been  written  by  M'' 
Buckley  is  incontrovertibly  fixed  between  this  date  and  the  1st.  of 
December  following,  the  time  sworn  to  for  compleating  of  the 
steam  engine  ;  therefore  as  M^  Rumsey  quitted  his  setting  pole 
scheme  and  "  pursued    the  perfecting  his   steam  engine  with 
increased  ardor  (page  3)  onthe  receipt  of  this  letter  ;  it  becomes  of 
moment  to  ascertain  its  exact  date  •  and  I  shall  show  that  this  letter 
VOL,  n.  67 


1058 


EARLY  STEAM 


I 


which  set  Messrs.  Rumsey  and  Barns  to  work  in  such  haste  and  with 
^uch  "  increased  ardor"  was  not  wTitten  until  near  a  year  after  the 
time  it  is  pretended,  and  the  copper  works  said  to  have  been  made 
in  1785,  were  not  begun  until  1786 — so  that  this  machinery  complet- 
ed so  briskly  and  sworn  to  have  been  on  board  in  December  1785 
has  made  a  jump  of  just  twelve  months,  in  order  to  persuade  the 
public  into  a  belief  that  M""  Rumsey's  works  were  begun  time 
enough  to  supplant  mine. — "  At  that  critical  minute'''  says  he 
Came  out  a  Fitch  asserting  I  had  got  what  small  knowledge, 
I  had  from  him" — At  what  critical  minute  I  ask?  M""  Rumsey's 
third  page  will  tell  us — In  March  1785  he  informed  General 
Washington  by  letter  that  he  intended  applying  steam  to  boats  ;  in 
December  following,  Messrs  Barns  and  Morrow  swear  the  boat 
was  ready  j  and  his  exhibiting  this  boat,  he  confesses  was  hurried 
on  by  the  intelligence  received  from  M'^  Buckley  ;  consequently 
this  work  and  this  "  Encreased  ardor"  was  subsequent  to  the  date 
of  the  letter  from  M^  Buckley.  Then  if  I  can  fix  the  time  of  M^ 
Buckley's  writing  the  letter,  I  shall  establish  a  certain  fixed  period 
at  which  M''  Rumsey  acknowledges  his  works  were  not  on  board 
his  boat.  And  I  felicitate  myself  in  being  able  to  do  it  so  incon- 
testibly  as  to  prove  from  his  own  writings  that  he  has  given  false 
dates  and  assigned  false  reasons  for  his  movements.  He  knew 
at  the  time  of  inserting  that  quibbling  account,  that  it  would  not 
bear  the  light,  and  therefore  did  not  dare  to  give  the  date  of  M^ 
Buckley's  Letter,  wrote  at  that  "Critical  minute,"  for  M^  Buckley's 
letter,  would  have  shown  this  "Critical  minute"  was  not  in  1785, 
when  they  swear  the  steam-boat  was  ready,  but  in  the  summer  of 
1786,  full  twelve  months  after  I  had  made  my  plans  public,  and 
was  procuring  patterns  for  ray  present  cylinder,  and  had  made  a 
complete  model  of  a  steam-engine  in  brass  and  iron. — I  have  been 
at  the  pains  of  walking  66  miles  to  Pequa  and  Lancaster  to  see 
M^  Buckley,  that  I  might  obtain  an  additional  proof  (to  the  many 
others  I  shall  produce)  that  M^  Rumsey  has  transposed  the  order 
of  time  and  antedated  facts.  M*"  Buckley  frankly  toi^i  me  all  he 
knew  of  the  matter  and  fixeo  the  time  of  writing  his  letter,  so 
circumstantially^  to  have  been  in  1786,  and  not  in  1785,  that  not  a 
doubt  can  remain — and  it  will  further  appear  from  the  certificate  he 
hri.s  wiynii  me  that  the  colouring-  as  to  fact,  as  well  fis  to  ■I.^^'-, 


NAVIGATION. 


1059 


been  grossly  disingenuous,  as  will  be  seen  on  comparing  his 
certificate.  No.  18,  with  the  following  : 

No.  11. 

This  may  certify  that  the  paragraph  that  M""  James  Rumsey  has 
copied  from  my  letter,  which  he  applies  to  the  injury  of  M""  John 
Fitch's  character,  was  7iot  told  to  me  by  j[r  Fitc/iy  but  by  other 
persons,  who  for  reasons  were  convinced  of  his  priority  of  inven- 
tion. And  as  to  the  time  of  writing  the  letter  it  was  when  M"" 
Samuel  Brigs  was  making  patterns  for  Fitch's  castings.  As 
witness  my  hand  this  twelfth  day  of  May,  1788. 

DANIEL  BUCKLEY. 

On  my  return  to  Philadelphia  I  applied  to  M^.  Brigs  in  order  to 
ascertain  the  Time  of  his  making  my  patterns and  he  freely  gave 
me  the  following  certificate  : 

No.  12. 

This  may  certify  whom  it  may  concern,  that  in  the  summer  of 
1786,  1  performed  some  turning  work  for  John  Fitch,  being  pat- 
terns for  castings  for  his  steam  boat,  and  before  that  time  I  made 
no  work  for  the  said  John  Fitch  ;  That  I  am  acquainted  with 
Daniel  Buckley  and  saw  him  at  my  shop  during  that  summer  and 
at  sundry  times  since,  and  we  have  frequently  conversed  about 
James  Rumsey,  but  the  particulars  of  any  conversation,  with  him 
I  do  not  recollect. 

SAMUEL  BRIGGS. 

Affirmed  the  15th.  May  1788.  that  the  foregoing  is  just  and 
true,  before 

PLUNKT^.  FLEESON. 
Thus,  independant  of  all  other  proofs,  have  I  brought  a  conclu- 
sive evidence  out  of  M^  Rumsey's  own  writings  and  from  his  own 
testimonies,  that  the  steam  machinery,  sworn  to  have  been  board 
in  December^  1785,  could  not  have  been  ready  until  December 
1786  ;  and  here  I  might  safely  rest  my  defence,  and  very  properly 
quote  M''.  Rumsey's  own  words  (annexed  tb  the  certificate  No. 
18.)  viz  '-Should  he  incline  io  assert  hereafter,  what  credit  he 
will  deserve,  has  been  so  clearly  proved,  that  future  impositions 
iDaybe  avoided,  and  those  \\ho  spread  a  slander  they  do  not  helitve^ 
deserve  the  contempt  of  all  honest  men  " 


1060  EARLY  STEAM 

.  But  I  will  proceed  and  must  not  omit  remarking,  that  this  thirci 
page  of  his  work  is  very  fatal  to  him.  He  says  "  I  should  certainly 
hav€  quitted  my  steam  engines  [mgines  only  in  idea)  though  in 
great  forwardness,  and  have  produced  ihc  boat  for  vjhich  1  had 
obtained  the  certificate^  &c.  had  not  a  M^.  Fitch  come  out  at  this 
critical  mmute  with  his  steam-boat,  &c.^^  And  further  adds 
"  Had  I  exhibited  my  first  boat  it  would  have  been  construed  into 
an  acknowledgement  of  M^.  Fitch's  assertion,  by  producing  a 
boat  with  which  steam  had  nothing  to  do  ;  these  considerations 
compelled  me  to  pursue  the  perfecting  my  steam  engines  Avith 
increased  ardor."  Thus  I  have  a  proof  from  himself,  that  the  certi- 
ficates from  General  Washington,  &c.  (which  procured  his  laws  in 
Virginia,  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania)  had  no  reference  to  steam 
consequently  my  laws  for  the  exclusive  use  of  steam  applied  to 
boats,  cannot  interfere  either  with  his  laws,  or  his  expectations 
at  the  time  of  asking  for  them.  I  apphed  to  the  several  legisla- 
tures openly  and  unguardedly  without  friends  and  without  patrons  ; 
and  from  the  pure  merit  of  my  pretensions,  met  wuth  success, 
without  a  whisper  being  breathed,  that  1  was  interfering  with  M"^ 
Rumsey.  I  am  confident  that  he  never  conceived  me  to  be  a  rival 
in  navigating  boats,  until  he  found  his  own  plan  hopeless  and.  mine 
likely  to  succeeds 

In  his  third  page  he  says,  I  wrote  to  General  "Washington  10th 
March  1785,  that  I  intended  applying  both  powers  to  a  boat  built 
after  the  model  of  the  one  he  saw  at  Bath  ;  but  the  di.?advantages 
before  mentioned  still  remained  and  as  I  could  gain  truth  only  by 
successive  experiments,  incredible  delays  were  produced  —  and 
though  my  distresses  were  greatly  increased  thereby,  &c."  —  It 
is  truly  amazing  that  though  he  had  long  before  this  letter,  been 
making  progress  in  Steam  engines,  and  gaining  truth  by  successive 
experiments,  and  incredible  delays^  insomuch  that  at  the  time  of 
his  proposing  to  get  cylinders  cast  at  Governor  Johnson's  works 
in  October  1785,  he  had  the  principal  part  of  his  work  untouched  ; 
I  say  it  is  amazing,  that  these  incredible  delays  should  all  vanish  as 
.n  an  instant,  and  that  between  the  time  of  hifi  failing  at  Governor 
*'ohnson's  works  in  Octouer  or  November  1785,  and  the  first  of 
December  following,  he  should  have  completed  his  whole  machi- 


NAVIGATIOK. 


1061 


nery,  ready  to  be  put  on  board. — A  Steam-engine  is  a  complex 
piece  of  work,  and  his  subvSequent  transactions  show  that  he  found 
it  so;  for  it  has  taken  him  from  the  summer  of  1786  (when  he 
removed  his  works  from  Frederick-town)  to  the  winter  of  1787 
to  make  them  ready  for  a  fair  experiment.  No  person  therefore 
can  be  brought  to  beUeve^  that  his  first  machinery  could  have 
been  conjuied  together  in  little  more  than  30  days. — No  such 
thing  happened  —  I  have  already  sufficient  proof  to  the  contrary, 
and  have  no  doubt  but  a  multitude  of  corroborating  witnesses  will 
voluntarily  offer  themselvesj  when  this  pamphlet  gets  down  to 
Frederick-town  and  Shepherds  town,  where  I  shall  take  some  pains 
to  have  it  circulated.  It  is  truth  alone  I  am  in  search  of,  in  order 
to  wipe  off  the  imputation  from  my  own  character;  for  as  to 
stability  of  title  to  my  exclusive  rights,  I  shall  not  cast  away  an 
anxious  thought  about  it, — I  am  secured  by  my  laws  —  and  my 
'  coadjutors as  M»'.  Rumsey  is  pleased  to  term  them,  I  am  sure 
have  no  sort  of  apprehension  about  the  monies  they  have  risqued ; 
and  only  wish  that  I  should  remove  any  aspersions  that  may 

be  unjustly  cast  upon  me  ^  Thus  far  it  may  be  said  they 

have  an  interest  in  my  success,  because  a  law  in  my  favour  in 
Maryland  is  yet  depending. 

I  must  not  yet  quit  the  subject  of  M^.  Buckley's  letter  in  his 
third  page,  from  whence  it  is  plainly  to  be  gathered,  that  subsequent 
to  his  letter  of  lOth  March  3785,  to  General  Washington  he  meant 
to  tell  the  world  he  was  busily  employed  in  private  experiments  on 
Steam  Engines,  and  that  although  his  first  setting  pole  boat 
Bore  the  pelting  of  ignorance  and  ill  nature,"  yet  he  did  not 
set  about  making  a  Steam-engine,  for  this  boat,  until  (as  he 
calls  it)  the  critical  moment  when  a  M'^.  Fitch  with  his  Steam- 
engine  came  out,  asserting  that  he  was  the  first  inventor  of  Steam, 
and  that  I  had  gotten  what  small  knowledge  I  had,  from  him." — - 
Now  as  all  his  experiments  were  privately  conducted,  and  he  does 
not  pretend  to  have  begun  his  boat  engine,  until  Mr.  Buckley  had 
sent  notice  that  I  charged  him  with  stealing  knowledge  from  me ; 
I  would  ask  any  man  where  I  was  to  obtain  the  grounds  for  my 
charge  1  it  could  not  be  until  I  had  begun  my  own  engine,  and 
made  it  every  where  public^ — then  it  follows  that  my  pretended 
complaint  against  him  must  have  been  subsequent  to  my  own 


1062 


EARLY  STEAM 


works  and  prior  to  the  beginning  of  his  ^YOlks  for  his  boat  in 
J^ovember  (as  he  calls  it)  which  from  his  own  statement  has  laid  a 
fair  and  just  foundation  for  my  claim  of  public  priority ,  lb;  private 
priority  is  out  of  the  question,  as  M^.  Henry,  M"".  Ellicott  and 
Paine  are  before  us  both. 

Nay  even  after  the  real  Steam-engine  for  his  boat  was  actually 
begun,  we  find  it  kept  as  the  most  profound  secret,  and  from  Charles 
Morrow's  deposition  it  is  declared,  the  boat  came  to  Sheperds-town 
early  in  the  fall  of  17S5  ;  that  M^.  Barns  went  to  Baltimore  shortly 
after  to  have  some  machinery  cast ;  and  on  his  return  from  Balti- 
more was  sent  to  Frederick-town  in  order  to  have  some  other  things 
made  (which  could  not  consistently  wi'.h  Governor  Johnson's  letter 
be  earlier  than  the  beginning  of  November)  and  about  the  middle 
of  November  they  were  all  finished  viz.  a  boiler ^  two  cylinders , 
pumps,  pipes,  ^x. — I  confess  this  is  very  brisk  work  for  a  country 
town — more  than  ever  I  could  get  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia. 

At  Baltimore  four  large  cocks  were  bespoke  by  M*".  Barns  and 
the  brass  founder  was  told  they  were  for  the  warm  springs  of 
Virginia  as  will  presently  appear;  Governor  Johnson  was  entrusted 
with  the  scheme  in  confidence,  and  copper-works  were  carried  on 
in  Frederick-town  with  great  secresy  —  inasmuch  that  a  citizen 
hearing  it  rumoured  that  they  were  for  a  Steam-engine,  applied  to 
see  them,  but  was  refused  (as  will  be  shown)  and  the  matter  still 
remained  a  secret  until,  as  Governor  Johnson  says,  ^^The  designed 
purpose  of  the  cylinder  was  a  subject  of  pretty  general  conversation 
in  Frederick-town" — Then  during  this  interval  of  privacy,  surely 
any  ma.i  that  should  have  conceived  the  same  idea  and  brought  it 
forward  to  public  view,  ought  to  be  entitled  to  the  right  and 
advantages  of  the  discovei  y — for  all  these  confidential  persons,  as  I 
have  already  said,  might  have  died  and  the  world  have  lost  the 
bt  nt'fit — Lei  me  consider  the  dangler  of  admitting  thisne\.'  doctrine 
elaiius — A  nian  makes  a  valuable  discovery — he  pursues  it  at  a 
\  \va\.  expense  and  publishes  it  to  the  world  ~  a  set  of  men  com- 
rmin;;-  together  shall  afterwards  come  forth,  swear  for  each  other, 
liat  J.u  y        been  making  the  same  kind  of  engine,  many  months 
X  fin*',  and  bring  proofs  from  respectable  characters,  that  they  had 
,\initd  at  the  practicability  of  such  a  scheme,  even  before  their 
private  ex[)e:inifnts.    Will  any  man  of  the  least  particle  of 


NAVIGATION. 


1063 


iindersta»ding  allow,  that  this  private  work  shall  be  adnntted  to 
contain  sufficient  evidence  to  overset  the  public  works  of  a  fair  and 
open  artist  ?  Surely  not — If  it  was  once  allowed,  men  would  not 
be  w^anting  to  swear  away  from  the  real  inventor,  the  most  valuable 
discoveries  in  the  world.  All  they  would  desire  from  the 
pubhc  claimant  would  be,  for  him  to  fix  the  earliest  date 
to  his  discovery,  and  if  it  was  20  or  even  50  years  back  they 
would  prove  that  they  themselves,  their  fathers  or  grandfathers, 
or  some  distant  friend,  had  communicated  it  many  years  before. — 
There  is  no  end  to  this  kind  of  proof;  and  both  reason  and  lav/ 
unite  in  defending  the  first  public  discoverer. — It  would  be  dan- 
gerous in  the  highest  degree  to  deviate  from  this  rule. — If  M^' 
Rumsey  did  really  and  in  good  faith  and  conscience  intend  to  cany 
into  execution,  the  secret  he  communicated  to  General  Washing- 
ton, I  can  only  say  he  was  unlucky  in  delaying  it  so  long,  as  to  let 
me,  with  my  subsequent  discoveries,  come  forward  before  him;  what 
I  did  was  public — it  was  notorious  to  all  Virginia  and  Maryland 
and  not  a  murmur  was  raised  against  me,-  not  a  syllable  uttered 
(that  ever  I  heard)  charging  me  with  interfering  with  M''  Rumsey. — 
The  Assemblies  ot  Virginia  and  Maryland  encouraged  my  scheme, 
and  nobody  told  me  I  should  interfere  with  him. — My  petitions 
laid  long  before  the  Assembly  of  Virginia,  and  a  law  was  ultiinalely 
passed  in  my  favour,  w^ithout  objection  or  complaint.  M'"  Rumsey 
has  insinuated  that  I  got  my  first  thought  from  Captain  Bedinger 
in  Kentucky,  who  went  there  in  1784 — nay  he  goes  so  far  in  one 
place^  as  to^ay,  he  "Was  told  so"  and  in  another  ih?it  "  Circum- 
stances leave  little  room  to  doubt  it."  I  have  already  declared 
that  I  have  not  been  in  Kentcky  since  the  year  1781  :  thus  falls 
to  the  ground  this  part  of  his  "  Plagiarism"  allegations — But  I 
will  suggest  to  him,  that  it  is  much  more  probable,  that  all  his 
determinations  of  beginning  his  Steam-engine,  might  have  come 
to  Jmn  in  a  much  straighter  line,  than  from  Kentucky  to  me. 
Captain  Bedinger  is  so  uncertain  about  the  matter  of  his  ever 
having  mentioned  steam  in  Kentucky,  that  he  only  says,  coldly,  the 
he  "  believes^^  he  also  mentioned  "  that  it  worked  by  steam^  I  will 
remind  Mr.  Rumsey,  that  I  not  only  believe  that  I  presented  my 
plan  to  Congress,  before  the  time  he  pretends  to  have  spoken  to 
Governor  Johnson  about  getting  cylinders  for  him,  and  before  Lis 


1064 


EARLY  STEAM 


copper  works  were  bespoke,  but  tbe  files  of  Congress  will  'prove, 
that  in  August  1785,  I  laid  my  plan  before  them  ;  and  nobody  will 
suppose  it  was  a  very  indirect  road  from  Congress  to  each  of 
the  United  Slates.  A  very  few  days  after  my  plan  was  laid  before 
them,  Mr  Rurasey  might  have  been  furnished  with  a  copy  of  it  , 
and  if  any  member  of  Congress  should  know  of  such  a  transaction 
(certainly  very  innocent  in  itself)  he  will  confer  a  great  obligation 
on  me  by  communicating  it.-Eut  in  Philadelphia  it  w^as  public  before 
it  went  to  Congress,  and  long  before  Rumsey's  orders  went  to 
Frederick-TowM  or  Baltimore.  I  have  a  fair  right  to  suppose  all 
these  things,  and  M'  Rumsey's  giving  me  no  opposition  in  my  ; 
application  for  exclusive  laws,  and  even  permitting  his  law  to 
expire  in  Pennsylvania,  without  trying  to  derive  any  benefit  from 
it,  amount  to  positive  proof  that  he  had  no  serious  thoughts  about 
applying  steam  until  it  was  too  late. — I  promise  him  I  shall  not  be  so 
dilatory  in  exhibiting  my  boats  in  Virginia  conformably  to  my  law. 
I  trust  to  the  goodness  of  my  cause  and  the  honor  and  generosity 
of  my  country,— and  that  I  not  only  have  a  substantial  right  by 
exclusive  laws,  but  by  justice  and  equity. 

The  affidavits  from  William  Askew,  N^.  6,  and  Henry  Bedinger, 
N**.  7,  to  prove  that  M'  Rumsey's  boat  is  much  superior  to  mine, 
is  acknowledging  on  the  part  of  Rumsey,  that  his  pretensions 
to  the  invention  are  but  weekly  founded.  However  faulty  my 
works  might  be,  and  however  perfect  his  own,  it  would  have  no 
force  in  the  determination  of  our  title  to  the  invention  ;  but  argues 
a  wish  in  him  to  gain  an  advantage  on  principles  different  from 
those  on  which  our  dispute  must  be  ultimately  decided  in  the 
O'P'inion  of  the  world, — But  even  this  position  of  M'  Rumsey's  I 
will  not  allow ;  for  on  a  comparison  of  the  velocity  and  bulk  of 
both  boats  and  the  force  applied  it  is  evident  that  mine  exceeded 
in  the  proportion  of  more  than  two  to  one.  I  had  a  bulk  of  water 
to  remove  equal  to  above  12  tons,  whilst  he  had  to  contend  with 
no  more  than  3  tons,  if  I  am  rightly  informed ;  and  our  cylinders 
or  (moving  powers)  were  nearly,  if  not  quite,  equal ;  yet  my  boat 
was  urged  forward  with  nearly  the  same  velocity  of  his  boat ; — 
therefore  his  mode  hath  hitherto  no  superiority.  As  to  his  drawing 
water  in  at  the  bottom,  and  pushing  it  out  at  the  stern  of  a  vessel, 
it  is  no  new  invention,  but  was  long  before  presented  to  the 


NAVIGATION. 


1065 


Philosophical  Society  at  Philadelphia.  The  thought  caine  origiaally 
from  France,  of  which  I  was  acquainted  before  he  bespoke  any  of 
his  works  for  steam,  and  contended  the  right  of  using  it  with 
Arthur  Donaldson,  in  the  beginning  of  1786,  before  the  Assembly 
of  Pensylvania,  as  he  attempted  at  that  time,  to  assume  ihe 
discovery  to  him'self. 

No.  13. 

I  well  remember  when  tVff  Arthur  Donaldson  proposed  before 
the  Committee  of  Assembly,  a  method  of  navigating  boats  by  z 
stream  of  water  forced  through  by  means  of  a  steam  engine  ;  that 
you  appeared  to  be  acquainted  with  the  principle,  which  was  said 
to  be  originally  D'  Franklin's,  and  that  you  then  declared  it  had  bee? 
your  intention  to  have  made  an  experiment  upon  it. 

GEO.  CLYMER. 

M"*  John  Fitch 

May  17,  1788. 

In  spite  of  all  opposition  I  w^as  left  in  full  possession  of  that  or 
any  other  way  I  chose,  provided  I  worked  by  steam,  and  no  man 
can  take,  it  from  me  until  my  laws  expire.  I  conceive  we  have  by 
no  means  come  to  the  greatest  perfection  of  applying  our  power. 
I  am  now  trying  an  experiment,  and  the  machine  is  nearly  finished, 
to  propel  a  boat  not  by  expelUng  water^  but  afr,  and  hope 
Rumsey  will  allow  that  this  is  a  mode  peculiar  to  myself ;  but  if 
he  pleases  he  will  deny  it  and  assert  that  he  had  privately  tried  some- 
experiments  to  ascertain  its  practicability — I  further  hope  that  the 
publick  will  make  great  allowances  for  my  not  being  more  forwarcr 
in  my  plans,  especially  when  they  consider  the  great  difficulty  of 
procuring  proper  workmen,  together  with  the  new  and  unexplored 
grounds  that  I  had  to  travel  over,  but  hope  shortly  that  I  shall 
have  it  so  perfect  as  to  give  full  satisfaction  of  its  utility. 

In  page  5,  he  asserts,  that  my  boat  will  not  be  propelled  at  the 
rate  of  more  than  three  miles  an  hour  when  no  tide  opposes ;  this 
assertion,  I  believe,  will  shortly  be  proved  both  rash  and  envious; 
I  can  make  her  go  not  only  three  but  three  times  three. 

But  as  I  have  before  mentioned,  this  is  taking  up  the  dispute 
upon  different  principles,  than  those  M""  Rumsey  found  necessary 
to  hold  up  to  public  view,  viz.  That  he  ^vas  the  inventor  of  the 
•steam  boat.    TMIs  leads  me  to  consider  the  principles  on  whiet) 


1066 


EARLY  STEAM 


exclusive  priviieges  are  foumleclj  agreeably  to  justice  and  policy. 
If  we  have  recourse  to  the  enlightened  nations  of  Europe,  and  more 
especially  to  England,  whose  laws  respecting  the  title  to  property 
are  (with  little  and  in  some  cases  with  no  vaiiation)  in  force  amongst 
us,  we  shall  find  that  their  Jaws  imply  that  no  species  of  property 
ought  to  be  held  more  sacred  than  the  property  of  inventions ;  for 
having  their  origin  in  the  imagination  of  man,  uncertain  in  their 
operations,  and  expensively  perplexing  in  experiment,  it  becomes 
necessary  to  have  some  mode  established  to  secure  to  the  owner 
the  full  benefit  of  his  invention,  which  might  otherwise  prove  his 
luin.  To  prevent  which,  justice  and  good  policy  have  pointed  out 
a  remedy,  and  custom  has  established  it  on  a  permanent  basis. — The 
inventor  can  claim  no  benefit  from  his  thoughts  or  inventions, 
before  he  makes  a  public  declaration  of  such  invention  in  some 
place  of  record  es1abli?hed  for  such  purposes, — that  is — he  who 
invented  and  published  a  Steam-engine  will  have  an  exclusive 
right  for  a  certain  number  of  years  for  all  steam  engines ;  at  the 
expiration  of  which,  each  improver  has  an  undoubted  right  to  the 
benefit  of  any  improvement.  On  these  principles  he  who  first 
invented  and  published  the  idea  of  a  steam-boat,  invests  himself 
with  a  fair  and  just  title  to  all  steam-boats  for  a  certain  time,  which 
in  justice  and  policy  government  is  bound  to  support. — The  state 
of  Pensylvania  hath  given  her  sentiments  on  this  head,  and  hath 
<lL'clared  such  to  have  been  her  explanation  of  the  title  to  inventions 
by  rejecting  M'"  Arthur  Donaldson's  petition  to  have  me  confined 
to  a  certain  mode  of  applying  my  power.  It  was  not  the  mode  of 
miQig  the  force  of  steam  which  had  any  merit  in  this  invention;  but 
it  was  the  idea  of  connecting  steam  with  navigation^ 
claiii  ed  the  public  patronage?  as  soon  as  that  idea  was  made  public, 
and  the  benefit  of  it  applied  for. 

I  shall  now  introduce  the  proofs  I  have  promised,  and  show  to 
the  world  what  degree  of  credit  and  countenance  ought  to  be  given 
to  a  man,  who  in  order  to  (deprive  me  of  my  just  rights,  has  brought 
lorward  evidences  to  swear  to  facts  which  are  totally  false-You  will 
fcit  e  that  transactions  are  ante  dated  and  a  deception  intended,  with 
a  view  both  of  disgracing  and  robbing  me — Confident  that  gross 
misrepresentations  had  been  made  use  of,  I  was  at  the  expense 
and  trouble  of  two  journeys  to  Frederick-town  in  Maryland,  the 


NAVIGATION. 


1067 


scene  of  his  operations,  and  there  I  was  soon  confirmed  in  my 
suspicions  that  this  plausible  pamphlet  was  built  on  a  falsehood y 
and  that  the  patrons  whom  M^'  Rumsey's  address  has  procured  him 
in  this  city,  have  committed  themselves  too  unreservedly  to  a 
stranger.  I  now  find  the  reason  of  his  so  long  delaying  to  put  in 
his  claim—it  was  that  a  period  might  elapse  sufficient  for  memory 
to  be  uncertain,  and  for  facts  to  be  transposed  in  the  order  of  time; 
the  death  of  one  of  his  principal  workmen  also  rendered  it  probable 
that  some  of  his  pretended  proofs  might  be  difficult  to  detect. 
A  love  of  justice  has  induced  a  number  of  persons  to  step  forward 
and  testify  in  the  most  unequivocal  manner  that  the  works  sworn 
by  M"^  Rumsey's  evidences  to  have  been  finished  the  first 
December,  1785,  w^ere  not  begun  until  March  following,  when  he 
must  have  been  very  fully  possessed  of  a  knowledge  of  my 
pretensions. 

The  ten  following  certificates  will  fully  prove  the  antedating. 

No.  14. 

The  affidavit  of  Frederick  Tombough,  Smith  and  partner  of  M^' 
Zimmer,  the  Copper-smith  of  Frederick-Town  who  made  the  copper 
work  for  M"^  Rumsey's  steam-boat. 

Maryland,  Frederick  County,  April  I8th.  1788.  Then  appeared 
before  the  subscriber,  a  justice  for  said  state,  &  county,  Frederick 
Tombough  aged  about  thirty-nine  years,  who  being  sworn  on  the 
holy  Evangelists  of  Almighty  God,  deposeth  and  sayeth,  that  some 
time  in  March  1786,  he,  this  deponent  was  in  partnership  with 
Mathias  Zimmers,  now  deceased,  in  a  blacksmith's  shop,  adjoining 
said  Zimmers'  coppersmith  shop — and  that  he  remembers  two 
copper  pipes  being  brought  into  his  shop  by  said  Zinmieis  to  fit 
the  seams — which  pipes  he  was  told  were  for  M""  Rumsey's  Steam 
boat — and  further  that  he  knew  of  no  work  being  done  in  Mr 
Zimmers'  shop  on  account  of  said  boat  previous  to  the  tijne  above 
mentioned. 

Sworn  before 

GEORGE  SCOTT. 

No.  15. 

The  certificate  of  M^'^  Zimmers,  widow  of  M^^  Zimmers,  which 
IS  corroborated,  and  the  time  established,  by  the  next  certificate  • 


1068 


FARLY  ST51AM 


This  may  certify,  that  I  the  subscriber,  wife  to  the  late  Mathias 
Zimmersj  deceased,  have  no  accounts  in  my  books  so  as  to  ascertain 
the  time  of  M'  Rumsey's  bespeaking  his  machinery  for  his  Steam- 
boat, or  as  to  the  time  of  his  taking  it  away — but  that  Michael 
Baltzel  turned  works  to  finish  the  first  machinery  said  Rumsey  had 
of  my  husband  according  to  the  best  of  my  knowledge. — As 
witness  my  hand,  this  29th,  April  1788. 

ELIZABETH  ZIMxMERS. 

16. 

The  certificate  of  Michael  Baltzel,  Turner,  which  establishes  the 
time  of  Mrs  Zimmers'  fact. 

Frederick-town^  11th.  April^  1788. 
This  may  certify  that  I  the  subscriber  turned  works  for  M^  James 
Rumsey  of  Virginia,  for  his  Steam  boat  viz.  a  round  piece  of  wood" 
about  eight  inches  diameter  and  about  four  feet  long,  &c.  to  round- 
his  copper  works  upon — said  turning  was  done  in  March  1786. 
As  witness  my  hand 

MICHAEL  BALTZEL. 

17. 

The  certificate  of  M'  Jonathan  Morris,  inn-keeper,  which  confirms 
the  assertion  of  Governor  Johnson's  letter,  that  the  "Designed 
purpose  of  the  cylinders  w^as  a  subject  of  pretty  general  conversa- 
tion" in  Frederick-town,  and  therefore  had  it  been  prior  to  my  peti- 
tion to  the  assembly  of  Maryland  the  middle  of  December,  1785,  M^ 
Foy,  the  member  of  assembly  resident  in  that  town  must  have 
known  it,  and  the  house  have  received  information  from  him,  when 
probably  they  might  have  assigned  other  reasons  for  rejecting  my 
petition  than  mere  bareness  of  finances.  If  all  the  machinery  was 
ready  to  put  on  board,  as  M^  Morrow  swears,  on  the  first 
December,  it  must  have  been  a  fact  notorious  to  the  whole  town  ; 
but  the  following  declaration  shows  that  so  far  from  being  on  board 
in  December,  1785,  it  was  shut  up  as  a  secret  even  so  late  as  the 
latter  end  of  March  following ;  so  that  thir  "  pretty  genera] 
conversation,"  which  Governor  Johnson  speaks  of,  could  not  have 
happened  until  about  this  time,  and  all  the  evidences  I  produce 
confirm  my  assertion,  that  M""  Rumsey  did  not  begin  his  steam 


/ 


NAVIGATION.  1069 

engine^  until  I  had  published  my  plan  all  through  Mainland  and 
Virginia —The  certificate  is  as  follows  : 

Frederic k-tovm^  iSth.  April  17 8S. 
This  may  certify  that  I  the  subscriber  was  towards  the  lattei 
end  of  March  1736,  informed  that  M^'.  Matthias  Zimmers  bad 
begun  some  machinery  for  M^*.  Ramsey's  Steam-boat.  Accordingly 
I  called  on  M^.  Zimmers  to  see  it,  but  was  refused  the  sight  of  it, 
as  it  was  then  retained  as  M""  Ramsey's  secret — but  was  informed 
that  it  was  begun  in  the  beginning  of  the  same  month,  this  I  declare 
to  be  the  truth  as  near  as  I  can  recollect — As  witness  my  hand. 

JONATHAN  MORRIS. 

No.  18. 

The  deposition  of  John  Peters,  who  performed  such  parts  of 
M^.  Rumsey's  machinery  as  were  made  of  tin 

Frederick  County ^  Maryland^  April  ISth.  1788. 

I  the  subscriber  was  a  journeyman  and  worked  for  M''.  Matthias 
Zimmers— and  began  to  work  in  the  tin  business,  at  the  same  time 
M'^.  Zimmers  did  begin  the  copper  works  for  M'".  James  Rumsey, 
of  Virginia,  for  his  Steamboat,  which  said  coppers  and  tin  works 
were  begun  in  March,  in  the  year  1786. 

JOHN  PETERS. 
Sworn  before  me,  JACOB  YOUNG,  one  of  the  justices  for  Fred- 
erick county,  Maryland. 

N».  19. 

The  deposition  of  .John  Fry  miller  who  was  apprentice  to  M^. 
Zimmers  at  the  time  he  made  the  copper  works  for  the  steam 
engine,  shewing  not  only  that  the  works  were  begun  and  finished 
in  a  shop  next  to  M^  Tombough  ;  but  that  no  part  of  said  machinery 
was  begun  before  the  spring,  1786. 

State  of  Maryland,  Baltimore  County, 
On  this  twenty-sixth  day  of  April,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty  eight,  before  me  the  subscriber 
one  of  the  justices  of  the  peace  for  the  county  aforesaid,  personally 
appeared  John  Frymiller  of  Baltimore  town  in  said  county,  and 
made  oath  on  the  holy  Evangelists  of  Almighty  God,  that  during 
<-^e  time  he  was  an  apprentice  to  thf:  late  M^  Matthias  Zimmers 


1070 


EABLY  STEAM 


of  Frederick-town,  in  Frederick  county,  and  state  aforesaid, 
deceased,  when  he  the  said  Matthias  Zimmers  made  James 
Rumsey's  machinery  for  the  Steam-boat — That  he,  this  deponent, 
did  work  at  the  said  James  Rumsey's  machinery — That  it'Avas 
begun  in  the  spring  of  the  year  1786,  and  that  no  part  of  said 
machinery  was  begun  before  the  time  above  mentioned  by  the 
said  Zimmers,  to  the  best  of  his  knowledge — and  further  that  the 
said  machinery  was  begun  and  finished  in  a  shop  adjoining  Fred- 
erick Tomboiigh's  smith-shop  (which  said  Tombough  was,  as  the 
deponent  has  been  informed,  in  partnership  in  the  smith's  business 
at  said  time  with  said  Zimmers)  in  which  said  Matthias  Zimmers 
had  his  copper-smith's  fires  for  brazing  &c.  and  further  this 
deponent  saith  not. 

Sworn  before  me 

JOHN  MOALE. 

The  following  certificate  proves  that  M"*.  Rumsey's  machinery 
was  made  by  M^".  Zimmers,  in  Frederick  Town  in  the  spring  of 
1786,  their  being  but  two  Copper-smiths  in  Frederick  Town,  viz 
Messrs.  Matthias  Zimmers  and  Joshua  Minshall,  the  certifier, 

N^.  20. 

This  may  certify,  that  I  the  subscriber,  copper-smith  have 
resided  in  this  town  about  three  years,  during  which  time  there 
has  no  copper-smiths  resided  in  the  town  except  M^.  Matthias 
Zimmers  and  myself  and  that  I  was  knowing  to  M".  Zimmers 
making  copper  works  for  M^.  Rumsey's  Steam  boat,  and  am  (Tf 
opinion  it  was  late  in  the  spring  or  summer  before  said  Rumsey 
took  said  works  from  M^  Zimmers  in  the  year  1786.  As  w^itness 
my  hand,  29th.  April  1788.  at  Frederick-town,  Maryland. 

JOSHUA  MINSHALL. 

The  foregoing  testimonies  I  presume,  wull  carry  full  conviction 
that  Mr.  Rumsey  has  shifted  his  dates,  and  has  got  two  of  his 
workmen  to  swear  to  it — for  Messrs.  Barns  and  Morrow,  if  they 
had  consulted  their  accounts,  must  have  found  that  they  had  made 
a  lapse  of  a  whole  year  at  least,  and  that  the  December,  1785, 
which  they  speak  of  must  have  been  December,  1786. — The 
circumstance  of  being  stopped  by  the  ice  proves  it  to  have  been  in 
the  winter,  and  therefore  must  inevitably  have  been  in  the  winter 


NAVIGATION. 


1071 


of  1786.  But  this  was  too  late  a  date  to  serve  their  purpose  of 
supplanting  my  claims  and  just  rights,  which  I  mean  to  maintain 
under  the  laws  I  have  already  obtained  and  have  no  doubt  of 
succeeding  in  my  applications  to  the  other  assemblies  when  they 
come  to  see  my  proofs  and  M^.  Rumsey's  false  datings.  He 
has  mentioned  the  obtaining  part  of  his  works  from  Baltimore, 
where  t  can  also  shew  he  has  used  the  same  want  of  candor,  and 
it  will  confirm  the  proofs  from  Frederick  Town. 

It  appears  the  four  large  cocks  for  his  steam  pipes  and  works,: 
were  bespoke  of  Christopher  Raborg,  in  Baltimore,  by  M".  Barns, 
who  the  better  to  conceal  the  ^-designed  purpose  of  the  cylinders," 
told  him  they  were  for  the  warm  springs  in  Virginia, — perhaps  a 
little  mental  reservation  might  cover  this  deviation  from  fact. — 
But  M \  Raborg  had  no  account  thereof  and  could  not  give  the 
time  with  precision — though  he  believes  they  were  made  in  the 
fall  of  1785  ;^the  certificates,  N^  20  and  21,  which  follow,  prove 
that  the  time  was  certainly  in  the  spring  of  1786.  As  these  certifi- 
cates appear  to  refer  only  to  cocks  made  for  the  warm  springs,  I 
had  considerable  doubts  about  admitting  them  into  ray  defence  ; 
because  M'.  Rumsey  on  finding  that  I  proved  them  to  be  made  in 
March,  1786,  might  (if  he  pleased)  adhere  to  M^.  Barn's  declaration, 
of  their  being  made  for  the  warm  springs  and  not  for  the  steam 
boat:  But  I  am  now  happy  in  having  a  confirmation  under  M-". 
Rumsey's  own  hand,  published  in  M*".  Oswald's  paper  of  the  tenth 
instant,  where  he  informs  the  public,  ^^M'.  Raborg  was  the  person 
who  undertook  to  make  cocks  for  my  steam  boat,  and  by  him  1 
shall  prove  that  they  were  finished  at  the  time  he  mentioned  to 
Fitch,  viz.  the  fall  of  1785." 

Christopher  Raborg's  certificate  is  as  follows  : 

N<>.  21. 

This  may  certify,  that  Mr.  Joseph  Barnes  did  bespeak  of  me 
four  brass  cocks,  which  he  said  were  for  the  warm  springs  j-  that 
being  disappointed  by  my  journeyman,  I  got  them  made  by  Mr. 
Charles  Weir  &  Co. — said  cocks  I  do  beheve  weie  made  in  the 
fall  of  1785,  but  have  no  charge  made  of  them  to  ascertain  the 
time  with  precision — this  I  assert,  as  witness  my  hand,  at  Baltimore- 
this  £6th  day  of  April  178S 

CHRIST.  RABORG. 


/072 


EARLY  STF-AM 


22. 

The  certificate  of  Charles  Wier,  who  speaks  with  tolernble 
certainty  of  the  works  being  made  in  the  spring  of  1786. 

This  may  certify,  that  when  [  was  in  partnership  with  Isaac 
Causten,  i  made  four  brass  cocks  for  Mr.  Christopher  Raborg,  for 
which  I  received  the  Money  and  charged  myself  with  it — that  my 
books  are  destroyed  and  1  cannot  exactly  recollect  the  time 
of  their  being  made,  bift  am  persuaded  it  was  early  in  the  spring 
in  the  year  1786  —  this  further  may  certify,  that  1  never  made  the 
exact  number  of  four  cocks  for  said  Raborg,  except  only  that  one 
time.  As  witness  my  hand,  at  BalLimore,  26lh.  day  of  April 
1788. 

CHARLES  WIER. 

N*'.  23. 

The  certificate  of  Isaac  Causten,  who  ascertains  upon  good 
grounds  that  the  said  work  was  done  and  charged  on  the  "29th 
March  1786. 

This  may  certify,  that  I  the  subscriber  with  my  partner  Charles 
Wier,  made  four  brass  cocks  for  Mr.  Christopher  Raborg,  and 
charged  them  on  the  partnership  account  —  said  book  has  since 
been  destroyed,  but  from  some  loose  papers  T  found  charged  to 
M^'.  Raborg  on  the  company's  account,  on  the  29th  March  1786, 
four  brass  cocks,  which  with  other  accounts  I  have  drawn  out  into 
my  day  book.  Neither  have  I  made  the  exact  number  of  four 
rocks  for  him  at  any  other  time.  In  witness  whereof  I  have  here- 
unto set  my  hand  this  26th.  day  of  April  1788. 

ISAAC  CAUSTEN. 

The  reader  will  doubtless,  on  an  examination  of  two  pamphlets 
perceive  things  in  their  true  light,  and  tliat  M'.  Rumsey  made  no 
pretence  to  use  steam  till  after  the  failure  of  his  boat  on  the 
principles  exhibited  at  Bath,  after  I  had  invested  myself  with  an 
undoubted  title  by  exhibiting  the  invention  to  Congress  in  August, 
1785,  and  had  published  it  to  the  states  of  Virginia  and  Maryland, 
who  became  virtually  bound  to  secure  me  the  right.  M'.  Rumsey 
prosecuting  his  works  in  secret,  and  appearing  at  tJbis  late  day 
with  antedated  facts  is  a  full  proof  that  he  had  no  claim  to  the 
invention,  nor  is  there  any  one  principle  of  law  or  equity,  on  whicli 


1073 


lie  can  found  his  pretensions.  If  he  claims  it  on  his  tlwtight  M*". 
Paine,  M'*.  Henry  and  M^.  Andrew  Ellicott  are  long  before  him  ; 
if  on  forming  drafts  without  communicating  them  to  the  public, 
he  must  acknowledge  M'".  Henry^s  priority  •  but  if  it  is  to  be 
decided,  as  it  certainly  must,  by  the  established  mode  of  public 
declaration  on  recbrd,  my  title  is  indisputable.  Being,  therefore, 
certain  of  the  stability  of  my  claim,  founded  on  the  modes  estab- 
lished in  justice  and  policy,  I  have  not  a  doubt  but  my  country 
will  secure  and  protect  the  right  she  has  so  deliberately  granted 
to  me.  Under  this  security  I  embarked  my  time,  my  fortune,  and 
reputation,  and  thus  embarked,  I  am  certain  I  have  nothing  to 
fear  ;  but  shall  depend  with  full  confidence  on  a  continuance  of 
that  justice  which  is  due  to  the  rights  of  the  citizen,  smd  the  honor 
of  my  country. 

JOHN  FITCH. 

Philadelphia,  lOth,  May,  1788. 

MS.  JVb^e.— Philadelphia  December  12th.  88. 

N.  B.  the  publication  of  James  Rumsey  alluded  to  in  my  preface, 
is  not  annexed  as- it  is  expected  his  friends  will  send  them  forward, 
I  am  preparing  a  full  confutation,  as  I  believe,  to  the  pretensions 
of  said  Rumsey  to  the  steam-boat,  or  boiler,  which  will  shortly  be 
published,  until  when  I  apprehend  nothing  will  be  done  by  any 
legislature  to  my  prejudice. 

Jn»  :  Fitcb. 


POSTSCRIPT. 

Since  this  Pamphlet  went  to  press  a  second  edition  of  M'. 
Rupasey's  has  been  printed  in  this  city,  in  which  a  short  advertise- 
ment is  prefixed  and  an  extract  of  his  own  letter  to  General 
Washington  which  are  as  follow  : 

AD  VERTISEMEJTT. 
The  following  pages  are  taken  from  a  pamphlet  published  iu 
Virginia,  to  prove  the  author's  prior  right  of  applying  steam,  to 
propel  boats,  &c.  as  well  as  to  establish  the  prmciples  on  which  he 
has  done  it,  a  few  copies  were  then  thought  sufficient  for  thai 
VOL.  ij.  68 


1074 


EARLY  BTEAM 


purpose,  bu(  as  M'  Fitch  intends  to  answer  the  pamphlet,  it  is 
therefore  necessary  to  republish  as  much  of  it  as  respects  Fitcli, 
which  is  (lone  with  no  other  variation,  from  the  original,  than  to 
correct  a  few  of  the  omissions  and  mivstakes  that  were  introduced 
into  the  first  publication,  from  the  hurry  in  which  it  was  done, 
(as  the  author  at  the  time  could  not  attend  the  press)  and  was 
circulated  with  an  apology  annexed  to  the  postscript,  for  the  imper- 
fection of  the  impressions ;  of  these  corrections,  perhaps  Fitch 
may  take  some  notice,  if  he  should,  such  part  of  the  old  pamphlet 
shall  be  reprinted  (verbatim)  to  convince  the  Public  that  the  subject 
has  not  been  varied  ;  but  a  httle  better  explained.  The  sophistry 
in  Fitch's  reply  (should  it  contain  what  hemforms  me  it  does) 
is  evidently  calculated  to  make  impressions,  unfavourable  of  me, 
on  the  Public  mind,  and  to  wound  the  reputation  of  several  respec- 
table characters,  I  must  therefore  beg  the  Public's  indulgence,  to 
suspend  their  opinion  for  a  few  weeks,  when  I  shall  have  it  in  my 
power  to  lay  before  them  such  additional  statement  of  facts,  sup- 
ported by  such  respectable  testimony,  as  will  incontestibly  prove 
the  unjustifiable  steps  Fitch  has  taken,  to  deprive  the  author 
of  his  discoveries,  and  to  injure  the  reputation  of  sundry  gentlemen. 

N°.  19  is  added  to  this  publication ;  it  is  part  of  a  letter  wrote 
by  the  editor  to  his  excellency  General  Washington,  dated  the  10th. 
of  March  1785,  which  will  show  that  the  editor  had  fixed  on  a 
method  of  applying  steam  to  propel  a  boat  before  M^'  Fitch  knew 
(from  his  own  account  of  the  matter)  that  steam  had  ever  been 
made  use  of  for  any  purpose  whatever ;  how  then  is  it  possible  he 
should  have  the  prior  right  to  this  discovery  ?  if  it  is  asked  who  made 
the  most  promising  experiment  ?  it  would  be  found  that  my  expe- 
riments two  years  smce  exceed  the  best  he  has  ever  made  ;  must  I 
then  be  deprived  of  my  discoveries,  which  are  substantial,  because 
I  endeavored  to  keep  them  secret  until  perfected  ?  justice  Avill 
never  suffer  it,  I  therefore  with  the  greatest  confidence  look  up  to 
my  countrymen  for  their  support  according  to  the  merits  of  my 
cause,  and  have  the  honor  of  subscribing  myself  their 

most  devoted  humble  servant 

jmES  RUMvSKY. 

Philadelphia,  May  7,  1788.  ^ 


NAVIGATION. 


1075 


As  to  his  advertisement  I  have  fully  proved  that  he  made  no 
experiment  on  his  boat  with  Steam  two  years  ago,  his  machinery 
being  at  that  time  in  Frederick-town — And  his  boat  so  far  exceeding 
mine  will  also  appear  a  wrong  assertion  as  the  greatest  distance  he 
pretends  to  have  propelled  his  small  boat  per  hour  is  four  miles, 
r.nd  that  appears  to  be  mere  ideal  estimation.  In  my  boat,  by  the 
same  force  applied,  I  let  out  three  miles  and  a  quarter  per  hour  by 
the  log  line.  This  is  departing  from  the  merits  of  the  dispute, 
but  to  convmce  the  public  of  his  assertion  on  this  head  being 
absurd,  I  shall  introduce  certificates  N^".  24,  25,  26.  As  to  his 
request  of  suspending  the  public  opinion,  I  rest  my  cause  on  sohd 
and  fair  conclusions  drawn  from  his  pamphlet,  a  very  safe  and 
candid  judgment  may  be  formed  of  the  merits^ of  M^.  Rumsey's 
pretentions,  it  being  evident  that  all  his  ftilse  assertions  and  false 
datings  will  never  prove  that  two  and  two  are  not  four. 

N^'.  24. 

These  may  certify,  that  the  subscriber  has  frequently  seen 
Fitch's  Steam  boat,  which  with  great,  labour  and  perseverance  he 
has  at  length  compleated  and  has  likewise  been  on  board  when 
the  boat  Avas  worked  against  both  wind  and  tide,  with  a  very 
considerable  degree  of  velocity  by  the  force  of  Steam  only.  M'. 
Fitch's  merit  in  constructing  a  good  Steam-engine  and  applying  it 
to  so  useful  a  purpose  will  no  doubt  meet  witli  the  encouragement 
he  so  justly  deserves  from  the  generosity  of  his  countrymen, 
especially  those  who  wish  to  promote  every  improvement  of  the 
useful  arts  in  America. 

DAVID  RITTENHOUSE. 

Philadelphia,  Dec\  12M,  1787. 

No.  26. 

Having  also  seen  the  boat  urged  by  the  force  of  Steam  and 
having  been  on  board  of  it  when  in  motion,  I  concur  in  the  above 
cpinion  of  M^.  Fitch's  merits. 

JOHN  EWING 

No,  26. 

From  the  well  known  force  of  Steam.  I  was  one  of  the  first  of 
'  those  wlio  encouraged  M^.  Fitch  to  reduce  his  theory  of  a  Steam- 


1076 


lilARLY  STEAM 


boat,  to  practice,  in  which  he  has  succeeded  far  beyond  my  expec- 
tations. I  am  now  fully  of  opinion  that  Steam-boats  may  be  made 
to  answer  valuable  purposes  m  facihtating  the  internal  navigation 
of  the  United  States,  and  that  Fitch  has  great  merit  in  applying 
a  Steam-engine  to  so  valuable  a  purpose  and  entitled  to  every 
encouragement  from  his  country  and  countrymen. 

ANDREW  ELLICOTT 

Philadelphia,  December  \Wi  1787. 

Co-py  of  M\  Runisey's  Ertract  JV*.  19. 
The  foliovring  is  part  of  a  letter,  wrote  by  the  editor,  to  his 

Excellency  General  Washington,  dated  the  10th.  of  March  1785. 

After  mentioning  that  kind  of  machine  for  propelling  boats 
which  the  General  had  seen  a  model  of,  I  proceed  to  say — "  I  have 
taken  the  greatest  pains  to  perfect  another  kind  of  boat,  upon  the 
principles  1  mentioned  to  you  at  Richmond  in  November  last,  and 
have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  I  have  brought  it  to  great 
perfection  ;  it  is  true,  it  will  cost  something  more  than  the  otlier 
way,  but,  when  in  use,  will  be  more  manageable,  and  can  be 
worked  with  as  few  hands ;  the  power  is  immense — and  I  liave 
quite  convinced  myself  that  boats  of  passage  may  be  made  to  go 
against  the  current  of  the  Mississippi  or  Ohio  rivers,  or  in  the 
Gulf  Stream  (from  the  Leeward  to  the  Windward-Islands)  from 
sixty  to  one  hundred  miles  per  day.  I  know  this  will  appear 
strange  and  improbable  to  many  persons,  yet  I  am  very  certain  it 
may  be  performed,  besides,  it  is  simple  (when  understood)  and  is 
also  strictly  Philosophical 

The  principles  of  this  boat  I  am  very  cautious  not  to  explain,  as 
it  would  be  easily  executed  by  an  ingenious  person. 

The  plan  I  mean  to  pursue,  is  to  put  both  the  machines  on  board 
of  boats*  built  on  a  large  scale,  and  then,  Sir,  if  you  would  be 
kind  enough  to  see  them  make  actual  performances,  I  should  not 
doubt  but  the  assemblies  would  allow  me  something  handsome, 
which  would  be  more  advantageous  to  the  public  than  to  give  me 
the  exclusive  right  of  usmg  them." 

*  There  wer«  cwo  boats  connected,  in  the  Model  I  exhibited  at  Bath  in  Sep- 
tember 1787,  which  is  the  rea.son  I  speak  of  boats  in  the  plural,  a&  experimen 
had  convinced  me  that  a  single  boat  ^ouJU  not  Kuccecd  on  that  principle. 


NAVIGATION.  1077 

As  to  the  extract  of  his  letter  to  General  Washington  of  the 
tenth  of  March  1785j  it  is  nothing  more  than  a  declaration  that 
he  intended  something  ; — that  even  if  it  was  steam  he  meant  to 
make  use  of,  it  was  a  profound  secret  which  he  was  then  cautious  not 
to  explain.  But  let  us  take  a  view  of  this  letter  and  I  have  no 
doubt  but  from  the  very  wording  of  it,  it  will  very  clearly  appear, 
that  the  utility  of  steam  (if  that  was  what  he  meant  to  convey) 
was  with  him  at  that  time  very  doubtful  and  upon  which  he  could 
have  no  kind  of  dependance:  and  holding  up  the  idea  of  secresy 
so  punctually,  lest  some  artist,  more  ingenious  than  himself,  should 
compleat  a  steam  boat  before  him  shews  indubitably  that  he 
conceived  it  as  an  agent  at  a  great  distance  from  him  and  upon 
which  he  had  no  reliance  or  from  which  the  public  could  then 
expect  no  advantage,  and  indeed  I  am  confident  that  his  ideas  ol 
a  steam  engine,  (if  any  he  had,  which  I  much  doubt)  were  very 
inferior  to  Messrs.  Henry's,  Ellicotts,  Paine's  &c.  in  the  year  1778. 
but  as  no  publication  to  the  world  took  place  by  them,  they  are 
candid  enough  not  to  claim  it  as  an  invention  of  theirs.  But 
should  1  even  go  so  far  as  to  admit  he  had  thoughts  of  applying 
steam,  and  that  he  intended  exhibiting  a  steam-boat  to  General 
Washington,  it  was  nothing  more  than  an  invention  he  held  in 
secret,  on  the  10th.  of  March  1785,  and  even  by  his  declarations 
to  Governor  Johnson,  if  they  were  as  early  as  October  or  Novem- 
ber, 1785,  he  kept  it  then  a  secret — nothing  was  imparted  to  the 
Public,  therefore  nothing  due  from  them.  I  had  long  before 
declared  my  intentions  through  Congress,  and  thereby  invested 
myself  with  the  indisputable  title  to  my  invention  throughout  the 
United  States.  Maryland  and  Virginia  had  virtually  pledged  the 
honor  of  their  states  to  secure  me  in  this  right. — Virginia  has  since 
suDDorted  that  honor  by  cheerfully  passing  a  law  for  that  purpose, 
and  Maryland  I  doubt  not,  as  also  other  of  the  United  States,  will 
j>ay  equal  regard  to  justice  and  policy. 

N  B.  As  the  application  of  steam  to  vessels  will  undoubtedly 
claim  the  early  attention  of  the  world,  as  the  least  expensive  and 
safest  mode  of  navigation, — I  doubt  not  but  the  impartial  public 
will  yet,  with  pleasure,  secure  me  in  those  rights,  for  which  secu- 
rity, had  I  apphed  on  the  first  exhibition  of  my  scheme,  would 
have  been  granted  without  murmur  or  delay  ;  but  as  a  confidence 


1078  earCy  steam 

in  the  honor  of  my  country,  and  a  want  of  finance,  were  th'en  the 
preventatives,  the  delay  certainly  will  not  now  operate  against  me; 
as  the  utility  of  the  invention  more  clearly  appears,  and  thereby 
the  attention  of  my  country  more  reasonably  claimed. 

The  following'  certificates  were  omitted  in  their  proper  places. 

No.  1 

I  do  certify  that  I  was  returning  with  John  Fitch  from  Ncsha,- 
many  meeting  some  time  in  April,  1785,  as  near  as  I  can  recollect 
the  time,  when  a  gentleman  and  his  wife  passed  by  us  in  a  riding 
chair  ;  he  immediately  grew  inattentive  to  what  I  said.  Some 
time  after  he  informed  me  that  at  that  instant  the  first  idea  of  a 
steam-boat  struck  his  mind.  JAMES  OGILBEE 

NO.  2  ' 

An  extract  of  a  letter  from  James  Scout. 
You  are  desirous  of  knowing  from  me  when  the  first  thought  of 
a  steam  boat  came  in  your  head  ;  this  I  cannot  tell,  but  this  you 
told  me,  that  m  the  month  of  April,  1785,  you,  was  travelling 
down  Street  road  in  company  M""  James  Ogilbee  and  Sinton 
passing  you  on  Street  road,  that  then  the  first  thought  occurred  to 
you  of  a  Steam-boat,  and  the  month  of  May  or  June  following  you 
shew^ed  me  a  plan  of  your  machine  on  paper,  this  truth  I  shal. 
seek  no  further  testimony  to  support ;  'tis  too  generally  known ; 
let  them  that  doubt  it  come  and  hear  more  from 

Your  humble  Servant, 
April  mh.  1788  SAMES  SCOUT 

No.  5 

This  is  to  certify,  that  John  Fitch  called  upon  William 
Henry,  Esquire,  my  late  husband  in  his  life  time,  about  two  years 
and  a  half  since,  ^yhen  M""  Fitch  shewed  to  him  drafts  and  a  model  of 
a  machine  how  to  propel  a  boat  through  the  water ;  And  further, 
that  I  have  frequently  heard  M"*  Henry  applying  steam  as  a  mean 
to  urge  boats  through  the  water  by  force  of  it,  and  that  he  hac 
proposed  laying  a  model  of  a  machine,  for  that  purpose,  before  US 
Philosophical  Society  long  before  M""  Fitch  called  upon  him. 

Witness  my  hand,  this  12th.  day  of  May,  1788. 
Test.  ANN  HENKY. 

Jno.  Jos.  Henry. 

Fims. 


KAVIGATION. 


1079 


[N,  Y".  Assemblj  Papers.] 

Philadelphia  October  18th  1788. 

No  1 

We  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed  do  certify  that  we 
lave  been  in  John  Fitch's  Steam  boat  of  60  feet  in  length  in 
the  River  Delaware  when  the  said  boat  was  propelled  through  the 
water  with  a  considerable  degree  of  velocity  regularly  &  uniformly 
without  any  manual  Labor,  by  the  force  of  Steam  and  We  are 
Clearly  of  opinion  that  the  Rivers  of  America  may  be  navigated 
oy  the  means  of  Steam  Boats  and  that  the  present  Boat  would  be 
»ery  useful  on  the  Western  waters. 

John  Ewing  James  Huchensou 

Robt  Patterson      T.  Y.  Matlack 
Andrew  EUicott     Chas»  Pettit 
John  Smilie  J.  B.  Smith 

David  Redick        Dav^  Rittenhouse 


Kg  2 

This  may  Certify  that  on  the  twelfth  ir-stant  we  the  Subscribers 
tyeni  in  Mr  John  Fitch's  Steam  Boat,  from  this  city  to  the  city  of 
Burlington  twenty  miles  in  the  space  of  three  hours  and  ten  mmutes, 
there  being  upwards  of  thirty  passengers  on  Board,  and  that  said 
Boat  was  propelled  thro'  the  water  entirely  by  the  force  of  Steam; 
and  from  our  own  observations  we  are  of  opinion  that  the  discovery 
which  M''  Fitch  has  made  may  be  of  much  service  to  inland 
Kavigaticn 

John  Poor 

Philadelphia  Oct^,  18*^  1788  John  Ely. 


No.  3. 

On  the  16^.  Inst*,  I  was  on  board  M^.  Fitch's  Steam  Boat  m 
lie  River  Delawar  saw  it  perform,  and  I  do  Certify  that  it  was 
impelled  by  the  force  of  steam  at  the  rate  of  at  least  four  miles 
«ai  hour  against  the  strength  of  tide  and  am  fully  convinced  the 
fcrce  applied  to  that  boat,  would  be  sufficient  to  carry  it  against 
tie  most  rapid  waters,  between  the  mouth  of  French  Creek  on  the 
iLilegany  &  the  Mouth  of  Muskingum  on  the  Ohio,  and  that  on  an 


1080 


EARLY  STKAM 


overaj^c  \i  would  carry  it  between  Three  and  four  miles  an  bo^ir 
r»n  any  of  the  Western  Waters. 

Jon^.  Heart  Cap*, 
Philadelphia  18^.  Oct'.  1788.  1  U.  S.  Regt. 


No.  4. 

This  may  certify  that  I  the  Subscriber  was  one  of  the  Committee 
Tippointed  in  March  1786  by  the  General  Assembly  of  this  state, 
on  the  petitions  of  John  Fitch  and  Arthur  Donaldson  respecting 
their  several  schemes  for  the  Improvement  of  navigation  by  means 
of  Steam  Engines,  When  M^.  Donaldson  produced  his  plan  to  the 
Committee  for  drawing  Water  in  at,  or  near  the  Bottom  and 
forcing  it  out  abaft  as  a  means  of  propelling  a  Vessel  forward. 

The  Committee  having  fully  heard  the  petitioners  and  afterwards 
viewed  M*"  Fitch's  model  of  an  invention  for  moving  a  boat  by 
means  of  a  Steam  Engine,  agreed  to  make  a  report  to  the  House 
in  his  favour. 

^  James  Irvine. 

Philadelphia  Aug*  7^^  1788 


No.  6. 

M"^  Fitch  in  his  explanation  of  this  draft,  to  me,  before  he  pre 
sented  it  to  the  Philosophical  Society,  mentioned  that  his  intention 
of  conveying  the  waters  from  his  forcing  pump  in  a  Tube  that 
passed  thro'  the  fire,  was  that  it  might  thereby  be  set  a  boiling 
before  it  entered  in  the  receiver,  lest  the  cold  water  mixing  with 
the  boiling  water  in  the  receiver  should  impede  the  generation  of 
the  Steam — 

Indorsed  John  Ewing. 

Presented  to  the  Society  Sept.  27^  1785 

R.  Patterson  Sec'y 


No.  6. 

I  William  Cavenagh  notary  and  Tabellion  public  in  and  for  the 
Commoiiwealth  of  Pennsylvania  by  Lawful  Authority  duly  admitteci 


*  NAVIGATION  lOSl 

an;l  sworn  dwelling  in  the  City  of  Philladelphia  in  the  said 
Commonwealth  Do  hereby  Certify  and  attest  unto  all  whom  it 
floth  or  may  Concern  That  the  aforegoing  writings  from  1,  to 
5  Do  Contain  just  and  true  Copies  of  Original  Certificates  to  me 
the  said  notary  bona  fide  produced  by  John  Fitch  in  the  said 
Certificates  named,  and  that  1  have  Carefully  Compared  the  said 
Copies  with  their  respective  Origmals  and  do  find  them  exactly 
to  agree  with  each  other.  And  I  do  hereby  further  Certify  that 
the  several  Gentlemen  who  have  signed  and  Subscribed  their  names 
to  the  said  Certificates  now  are,  or  heretofore  have  been  in  the  posts, 
Trusts  or  employments  hereinafter  following  their  respective  names 
viz*  John  Ewing  Provost  of  the  University  and  vice  Dresident  of 
the  Philosophical  Society. — 

Robert  Patterson  professor  of  Mathamatics  and  natural  Philo- 
f  phy — and  one  of  the  Secretaries  of  the  Philosophical  Society. 

Andrew  Ellicott  professor  of  Mathamaticks  and  Astronomy  in  the 
Episcopal  Accad'y — 

John  Smilee  (present)  member  of  the  Honrt'^^  the  supreme 
Executive  Council  for  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania, 

David  Redick,  Vice  President  of  the  S.  E.  Council  aforesaid. 

James  Hutchinson  one  of  the  Secretaries,  of  the  Philosophical 
Society. 

Timothy  Matlack  (late)  Secretary  to  the  S.  E.  Council  aforesaid. 
Charles  Pete  (late)  member  of  Congress  for  the  Commonwealth 
aforesaid. 

Jonathan  Bayard  Smith  (late)  prothonotary  of  the  Court  of 
Common  pleas  for  the  City  k  County  of  Philadelphia. 

David  Rittenhouse  Treasurer  for  the  Commonwealth  aforesaid, 

John  Poor,  Teacher  of  the  young  Ladies  Accd'y — 

John  Ely,  Teacher  of  Arch  Street  School — 

Jonathan  Heart  Captain  of  the  first  United  States,  Reg^ 

In  Testimony  whereof  I  the  said  notary  have  hereunto* 
set  my  hand  affixed  my  seal  of  Office  of  notary  at  Philadel- 
phia aforesaid  the  twelfth  day  of  December  in  the  year  of 
cur  liOrd  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  Eighty  eight 

W"'  Cavenough,  Notary  PubHc  &c  1788 


10S2 


ISAKLY  STEAM 


To  the  Honorable  the  Representatives  for  the  Common^eallV 
of  Pennsylvania 

The  petition  of  John  Fitch  of  the  city  of  PhLddelphia  humbly 
Shcweth 

That  he  hath  this  morning  seen  with  surprise  in  the  public  papers, 
that  a  petition  has  been  presented  to  your  honorable  body  by  James 
Ramsey  praying  you  to  grant  him  an  exclusive  right  to  the  use  of 
Steam  boats,  the  very  right  which  by  special  Act  of  Assembly 
passed  the  28**^  of  March  1787,  is  vested  in  your  petitioner,  who 
is  confident  he  need  do  no  more  than  remind  the  Honorable  House 
that  such  a  law  exists,  when  he  conceives  it  will  be  even 
unnecessary  to  pray  that  you  will  not  grant  that  to  another  which 
has  already  been  granted  to  him — Justice,  Honor  and  dangerous 
president  forbid  the  depriving  an  honest  citizen  of  the  fruits  of 
his  dear  earned  labour  and  to  whom  the  faith  of  the  government 
has  been  so  solemnly  pledged — the  very  attempt  to  draw  the  .House 
into  such  a  measure,  is  your  petitioner  conceives  offering  them  the 
greatest  indignity — Your  petitioner's  property  in  the  exclusive  right 
to  all  Steam  boats  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  is  as  firmly 
established  in  him  as  the  right  of  any  man  in  the  state  to  his  House 
or  his.  Farm  he  therefore  trusts  that  Honor  of  the  House  to 
protect  him  from  so  cruelly  an  intended  injury — and  your  petitioner 
as  in  duty  bound  shall  ever  pray. '  John  Fitch. 

Philad^^  September  6*^^  1788. 

A  true  copy  from  the  original  read  September  6.  1788. 

J.  Shallus  Asst.  Clk. 
of  the  General  Assembly. 

To  the  Honorable  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  Freemen 
of  the  Commonwealth  of  Pen.nsylvania 

The  petition  of  Henry  Voight  of  the  city  of  Phiadelphla, 
humbly  sheweth. 

That  your  petitioner  has  long  turned  his  attention  to  improve-» 
ments  in  mechanics  and  he  presumes  was  not  an  unuseful 
Citizen  during  the  war  as  his  various  manufacturing  machines  will 
evince  Since  the  building  of  Fitch's  Steam  boat  your  petitioner 
has  been  much  consulted,  employed  and  part  interested  in  its  com- 
pletion ,    That  during  the  many  experiments  and  consultations  about 


KAVIGATION. 


1083 


the  best  mode  of  constructing  an  engine  on  board  a  boat  your 
petitioner  foresaw  the  great  inconvenience  of  the  usual  mode  of 
boiling  water  and  amongst  a  number  of  other  projects  your 
petitioner  conceived  that  water  might  be  boiled  in  a.pipt,  a  drawing 
of  which  he  made  in  the  spring  of  1786  and  in  June  showed  it  to 
Timothy  Matlack  Esq""  &  John  Nacarrow  both  of  them  Gentle- 
men of  great  mechanical  knowledge  from  whom  he  hath  obtained 
Certificates  but  Fitch  was  advised  not  to  go  out  of  the  old 
way.  The  attempt  therefore  first  made  on  the  Steam  boat  was 
with  the  accustomed  heavy  boiler  which  so  loaded  the  boat  that 
Mr.  Fitch  determined  to  take  it  out  and  introduce  a  boiler  more 
suited  to  the  purpose  accordingly  preparations  were  made  for  a 
Pipe  boiler  which  is  now  executed  and  the  beat  working  with  it 
exactly  on  the  principles  and  form  exhibited  to  M*^  Matlack  and 
M"^  Nacarrow — Your  petitioner  hearmg  that  a  M^  Rumsey  was  to 
come  to  town  and  that  he  pretended  to  the  exclusive  right  to  a 
Pipe  boiler  your  petitioner  made  an  entry  of  his  said  boiler  with 
the  Prothonotary  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  the  city  of 
Philadelphia  being  told  the  copy  rights  of  books  were  there 
entered  and  he  conjectured  such  entry  in  a  public  office  might 
secure  to  him  in  Pennsylvania  the  exclusive  right  to  the  same  as 
death  in  such  case  would  not  deprive  the  public  of  the  discovery. 

Your  petitioner  therefore  humbly  prays  your  honorable  House  will 
be  pleased  to  grant  to  him  and  his  Heirs  the  exclusive  right  to  the 
emoluments  of  the  same  for  the  term  of  fourteen  years*  or  such 
term  as  the  honorable  House  may  think  it  deserves — and  your 
petitioner  as  in  duty  bound  &c, 

Phiian-'*,  September  6^^.  1788  Henry  Voight. 

A  true  Copy  from  the  Original 

J  Shallus  Asst  Clk 

of  the  Gen^.  Assembly. 
The  committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  petition  of  Jamt^ 
Rumsey,  John  Fitch  and  Henry  Voight  beg  leave  to  report — 

That  having  examined  the  said  petitions  and  with  great  attention 
heard  the  Parties  in  support  of  their  Respective  claims  are  unani- 
mously of  opinion  that  the  law  which  grants  to  John  Fitch  an 
exclusive  Right  to  ail  Boats  propelled  by  Fire  and  Steam,  hath  not 
only  secured  unto  him  his  Heirs  &c.  the  exclusiYe  right  to  the 


1084  KARLY  STEAM 

method  he  had  then  invented  for  the  purpose  of  applying  the 
powers  of  Fire  or  Steam  in  order  to  propel  Boats,  but  also  what- 
soever improvements  he  may  make  himself  or  obtain  from  others 
during  the  time  limited  by  said  Law.  And  however  improper  so 
extensive  a  Law  may  be  in  its  principles  yet  considering  that, upon 
a  faith  of  the  said  Law  several  Citizens  have  spent  much  labour 
and  money  for  which  they  are  not  yet  reimbursed — and  notwith- 
standing the  Legislature  may  have  a  right  to  Repeal  Laws  which 
convey  grants  that  are  highly  injurious  to  the  General  Welfare  yet 
the  resuming  such  Legislative  grants  ought  never  to  be  done  unless 
upon  the  most  pressing  necessity. 

Your  Committee  therefore  beg  leave  to  offer  the  following 
resolutions,  viz. 

Resolved  that  the  prayer  of  the  petition  of  James  Rumsey  be 
granted,  excepting  so  far  as  it  respects  the  propelling  of  Boats  by 
the  force  of  Fire  or  Steam. 

Resolved  that  the  prayer  of  the  petition  of  Henry  Voight  cannot 
be  granted. 

The  above  is  a  true  Copy  of  the  original  report  remaining  on 
the  files  of  the  General  Assembly. 

J.  Shallus  Asst  Clerk. 
Philadelphia  13th.  December  1788. 

Honoured  Sir  : 

As  it  is  so  very  inconvenient  for  me  to  attend  your  Assembly 
this  Session  to  answer  the  repeated  vexatious  Claims  of  James 
Rumsey  I  have  taken  the  Liberty  to  enclose  to  you  a  petition  to 
your  Honorable  House,  several  Certificates,  a  Pamphlet,  a  Report 
of  the  Committee  of  Pennsylvania  &c  all  which  I  pray  you  to  lay 
before  your  Honorable  House. 

There  is  one  part  of  the  pamphlet  which  may  require  a  little 
explaining  as  they  hinge  much  and  their  whole  dependance  of  the 
Pipe  Boiler  rests  on  it  where  speaking  of  M^.  Voight  and  the 
Pipe  Boiler  Page  14  I  say  that  I  am  indebted  to  him  alone 
for  the  improvement  yet  it  cannot  be  denied  but  I  laid  a 
Drawing  of  a  Pipe  Boiler  before  the  Philosophical  Society  many 
months  before  he  pretends  to  have  [done  so]  therefore  I  hope  your 
House  will  not  [conceive  his  words]  to  convey  more  than  the  very 
expression  itself  [and  that  they|  may  not  be  construed  instead 


NAVIGATION.  1085 

of  an  improTement  that  they  shall  convey  the  Idea  that  1  am 
indebted  to  him  for  the  invention. 

I  am  hardly  let  in  a  belief  that  your  Honorable  House  will  take 
up  his  Petition  but  refer  it  over  to  Congress,  yet  should  they  do  it, 
r  pray  that  I  may  be  notified  of  it. 

I  also  pray  you  Sir  as  soon  as  this  shall  come  to  hand  to  let 
have  information  by  Post  otherwise  for  fear  of  miscarriage  in  a 
reasonable  lime  I  shall  have  to  be  at  the  expense  and  trouble  of 
forwarding  another  Package  to  you  which  will  ever  lay  me  under 
the  obligation  of  subscribing  myself 

your  u^osi  devoted 
much  obliged 

and  very  humble  Servant 
•  John  Fitch. 

To  the  Honourable  the  Speaker 
of  the  Assembly  of  New  York. 
Endorsed., 

John  Fitch 
Papers  and  certificates 
relative  to  his  steam 
Boat, 

Addressed, 

Hon'ble  Speaker  of  the  General  Assembly 
of  the  State  of  New  York 
at 

Albany. 


This  may  certify  that  I  have  been  made  acquainted  with  M*^ 
John  Fitch's  plan  of  Propelling  vessels  thro'  the  water  by  the 
force  of  steam  and  if  it  should  answ^er  in  practice  as  well  as  in 
theory  I  am  of  opinion  that  it  promises  success  and  deserves  the 
notice  of  the  Legislature. 

Christopher  Colics. 

New- York  February  22^.  1787. 


10S6 


EARLY  STEAM 


State  of  Pennsylvania 
In  General  Assembly 
Friday  September  8*^.  1786  A.  M. 
The  report  read  September  6  on  the  petition  of  John  Fitch  was 
read  the  second  time  as  follows,  viz. 

The  committee  on  the  petition  of  John  Fitch,  report  That  they 
have  received  his  model  of  an  invention  for  moving  a  boat  by 
means  of  a  steam-engine,  of  which  they  entertain  a  favorable 
opinion. 

That  the  said  Fitch  represents  to  the  committee,  that  he  has 
begun  a  boat  for  navigating  on  the  river-  Delaware ;  but  which 
from  the  narrowness  of  his  funds  he  shall  not  be  able  to  compleat 
without  some  public  assistance. 

The  committee  conceiving  the  design,  if  executed  will  be  of 
considerable  public  utility  recommend  the  following  resolution  : 

Resolved  that  a  committee  be  appointed  to  bring  in  a  Bill  to 
authorise  the  supreme  executive  council  to  direct  payment  of  John 
Fitch's  drafts  to  any  amount  not  exceeding  in  the  whole  the  sum 
of  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds,  on  proof  made  to  them  that  the 
money  so  drawn  for  has  been  applied  to  the  purpose  of  complea- 
ting  his  steam-boat,  they  taking  his  security  for  repayment  thereof 
in  twelve  months. 

And  on  the  question  will  the  house  adopt  the  same  report  1 

It  was  carried  in  the  negative 

Extract  from  the  minutes 
J.  Shallus  Ass*  Clerk. 

Your  Committee  on  the  Petition  of  John  Fitch  report, 

That  they  have  viewed  his  boat,  which  he  proposes  to  propel 
against  the  Stream  by  the  agency  of  Steam,  and  altho'  the  apparatus 
necessary  to  the  same  is  not  yet  so  compleat  as  to  afford  demon- 
stration, yet  your  committee  entertain  no  doubt  of  a  full  and 
effectual  Completion  thereof. 

In  order,  therefore  to  encourage  a  further  improvement  in  so 
useful  an  Art  propose  the  following  resolution. 

Resolved,  That  the  petitioner  have  leave  to  bring  m  a  BiU 
agreeably  to  the  prayer  of  bis  petition. 

The  above  is  a  true  copy  of  the  original  remaining  on  the  files 


NAVIGATION. 


1087 


of  the  General  Assembly  and  whereupon  the  Resolution  of  the 
House  of  the  sixteenth  of  November  last  was  founded,  Philadel- 
phia February  .20^1^  1787. 

J,  Shallus  Ass*  Clerk, 
of  the  Gen'  Asseinbly. 
The  Committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  petition  of  John  Fitcb 
of  Bucks  county  in  PennsyJvania 
Report 

That  having  examined  the  certificates  and  other  papers  presented 
'.o  your  Committee  by  the  said  John  .Fitch,  they  are  of  Opinion 
that  in  order  to  encourage  a  further  Improvement  in  so  useful  an 
Art  'j  a  Bill  be  brought  in  for  the  purpose  of  granting  to  the  said 
John  Fitch  an  exclusive  right  of  Navigating  boats  by  the  force  of 
Stearn  or  Fire  for  a  certain  time,  agreeable  to  the  prayer  of  his 
petition. 

To  the  honorable  the  Legislature  of  the 
state  of  New- York  in  Senate  and  Assembly 
convened. 

The  petition  of  John  Fitch  of  Bucks  county  in  the  state  of 
Pensylvania  humbly  sheweth. 

That  your  petiiioner  has  lately  invented  a  method  of  propelling 
vessels  through  the  water  by  the  force  of  steam  which  he  flatters 
himself  is  red^iced  to  a  moral  certainty  and  will  be  a  very  great 
improvement  on  navigation  and  that  he  has  a  boat  nearly  completed 
to  navigate  on  the  river  Delaware  by  the  agency  thereof. 

That  the  states  of  New  Jersey  and  Delaware  have  patronised 
his  scheem  so  far  as  to  give  him  an  exclusive  right  for  said  boats 
for  the  term  of  fourteen  years  and  the  state  of  Pennsylvania  have 
passed  a  law  for  public  consideration  similar  thereto — That  your 
petitioner  has  invented  a  method  of  rowing  boats  by  oars  worked 
by  cranks  which  was  never  heretofore  used  which  applies  not  only 
to  the  force  of  steam  but  the  strength  of  a  horse  or  any  othjer  power 
to  equally  as  goovd  advantage  as  men  with  oars  whereby  mland 
navigation  must  be  benefited  nearly  as  much  as  the  labour  of  horses 
is  cheaper  than  the  labour  of  men.  Your  petitioner  therefore 
humbly  prays  that  your  honourable  body  will  take  into  their 
consideration  said  improvements,  and  grant  your  petitioner  such 


1088 


EARlvY  STEAM 


encouragement  as  in  their  wisdom  shall  seem  proper— And  your 
petitioner  as  in  duty  bound  shall  ever  pray 

John  Fitch 

New  York  February  21^^  1787 
Exldorsed,  No,  147 

A  petition  of  John  Fitch 

Praying  an  exclusive  Privilege  for  a  limited  Time  of  constructing 
vessels  to  be  propelled  thro'  the  water  by  the  force  of  steam. 

In  Assembly  February  1787  read  and  referred  to  M'"  Sickles 
M'-  Jones  Sl  Hamilton.. 

February  2r'i'  1787. 

M*"  Sickles  reported — see  the  Report  annexed — a  Bill  was  bjo'i 
in  pursuant  to  the  prayer  of  the  petition, 

To  the  honourable  the  representatives  of  the  state  of  Ncav  York 
in  General  assembly  met 

Gentleman  whereas  your  petitioner  has  formed  a  plan  for  facili- 
tating the  navigation  of  Rapid  Rivers  he  therefore  doth  propose  to 
construct  a  Certain  Species  of  Boat  of  the  Burthen  of  Ten  Tons, 
which  shall  sail  or  be  propell'd  by  the  Combined  Influences  of  Certain 
mechanical  powers  thereto  appiy'd  the  distance  of  Between  Twenty- 
five  to  forty  miles  per  day  against  the  Current  of  a  rapid  rivci 
notwithstanding  the  velocity  of  the  water  should  move  at  the  Rate 
of  five  miles  per  hour  and  upwards ;  with  the  burthen  of  Ten  tons 
on  Board  to  be  wrought  at  no  greater  Expense  than  that  of  three 
hands ;  and  as  a  premium  for  so  useful  an  Invention  your  petitioner 
prays  for  an  act  to  pass  this  honourable  house  of  Assembly  Granting 
to  your  .petitioner  his  heirs  and  assigns  the  sole  and  Exclusive  right 
of  Constructing  navigaing  and  employing  Boats  Constructed  after 
his  new  invented  model  upon  each  and  every  Creek,  River,  Bay 
Inlet  &  harbour  within  the  Limits  and  Jurisdiction  of  this  common- 
wealth, for  and  during  the  term  of  Ten  years  fully  to  be  Compleated 
and  ended  to  be  Computed  from  the  first  day  of  January  1785 
provided  always  that  the  Legislature  of  this  Commonwealth  may 
at  any  time  abolish  the  Exclusive  Right  herein  prayed  for,  by 
paying  to  your  petitioner  his  heirs  or  assigns  the  sum  of  ten  thousand 
pounds  in  gold  or  silver  &  your  petitioner  as  in  duty  bound  shall 
pray  ,  James  Rumsey. 

Endorsed.,  James  B.amserfjh  Petitim  to  the  Staie  of  Mew  York 


NAVIGAflON. 


1089 


5EN^.  WASHINGTON'S  OPINION  OF  M^.  EMSEY^S 
IMYENTION. 

1  have  seen  the  model  of  Rumsey's  Boats,  Constructed  to 
work  agamst  Stream  examined  the  powers,  upon  which  it  acts  ; 
been  eye  witness  to  an  actual  experiment  in  Running  water  of  some 
rapidity ;  and  give  it  as  my  opinion  (altho  I  had  little  faith  before) 
at  he  has  discovered  the  art  of  working  Boats  by  mechanism  and 
small  manual  assistance  against  Rapid  Currents;  that  the  Discovery 
is  of  vast  Importance ;  may  be  of  the  greatest  usefulness  in  our 
Inland  navigation  ;  and  if  it  succeeds  of  which  I  have  no  doubt 
that  the  value  of  it  is  greatly  enhanced  by  the  simphcity  of  the 
works ;  which  when  seen  and  explained  to  may  be  executed  by 
the  most  Common  mechanic. 

Given  under  my  hand  at  the  Town  of  Bath, 
County  of  Berkely  in  the  State  of  Virginia  this  7*^* 
of  Sepf^  1784  Go.  Washington. 

A  true  Coppy  Compared  with  the  org^ 

New  York  Dec^  3,  1784 — I  do  certify  that  I  have  seen  the 
original,  of  which  the  within  is  a  copy,  and  believe  the  whole  to  have 
been  writen  by  General  Washington  with  whose  handwriting  I 
am  perfectly  acquainted- 
Ben  Walker  formerly  aid  De 
Endorsed  Camp  to  his  Excell'y 

A  copy  of  Gen  Washington's  Gen^  Washington 

voucher. 


Philad*  Dec^  9ti»  1788 

Sir 

I  think  it  proper  to  inform  you  that  I  am  about  to  set  off  for 
Albany  where  I  propose  to  be  on  the  15***  ins'  in  Order  to  present 
a  Petition  to  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  New  York  in  Behalf 
of  M"^  James  Rumsey  praying  a  grant  of  the  exclusive  Privilege  of 
constructing  and  using  within  that  state  his  model  of  propelling 
Vessels  by  the  Force  of  Steam  &  the  Boilers  by  him  invented  for 
generating  Steam,  in  Order  that  you  may  be  heard  if  you  think 
proper  to  attend —  yours  &c  Joseph  Barnes 

M*^  John  Fitch  attorney  for  James  Rumsey 

VOL.  II.  69 


1090 


EAULY  BTHAJVI 


On  the  tenth  day  of  December  Anno  Domini  one  thousand  seven 
hondred  and  eighty  eight;  Before  me  Clement  Biddle  esquire  Notary 
and  Tabellion  public  for  the  commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania  duly 
commissioned  and  qualified,  and  one  of  the  Justices  of  the  court  of 
common  pleas  for  the  city  and  County  of  Philadelphia  dwelling  in 
the  said  city  Personally  came  George  Kemp  who  being  duly  sworn 
on  the  Holy  Evangelists  of  Almighty  God,  did  depose  and  say 
That  on  the  day  of  the  date  hereof  at  the  request  of  Joseph  Barnes 
attorney  for  James  Rumsey  he  went  to  the  dwelling  or  Lodging 
of  Mr  John  Fitch  and  in  presence  of  Joseph  Barnes  attorney  for 
James  Rumsey  as  aforesaid  delivered  to  the  said  John  Fitch  a  true 
copy  of  the  paper  writing  contained  on  the  other  side  hereof  and 
further  saith  not 

George  Kemp 

Sworn  as  above  before  me 
Quod  attestor 

Clement  Biddle 

Not  Pub  &  J.  C.  c.P.  1788. 


Rjchmond  November  Hth  1784 

Virginia 

To  all  whom  it  may  concern 
I  do  hereby  certify  that  a  Bill  "  giving  unto  James  Rumsey  his 
heirs  and  assigns  the  sole  and  exclusive  Right  of  constructing 
navigating  and  employing;  Boats  after  his  new  invented  model  for 
the  term  of  Ten  years  to  be  computed  from  the  first  day  of  January 
-  next"  has  passed  the  House  of  Delegates  of  this  state  with  this 
Proviso  "  that  the  exclusive  right  therein  granted  may  at  any  time 
be  abolished  by  the  Legislature  of  this  Commonwealth  upon  the 
payment  unto  the  said  Rumsey  his  Heirs  or  assigns  the  sum  of  Ten 
thousand  Pounds  in  Gold  or  silver,  and  that  the  said  Bill  is  to  be 
sent  up  to  the  Senate  for  their  concurrence  as  soon  as  they  shall 
have  formed  a*House. 

Jn^  Tyler,  S.  H.  D. 

New  York  ss  : 

James  M^Mechen  of  Berkeley  County  in  Virginia  being  duly 
sworn  on  the  Holy  evangehsts  deposeth  and  saith  that  the  above  is 


NAVIGATION. 


1091 


a  true  Copy  of  a  certificate  in  his  possession  subscribed  with  the 
name  of  John  Tyler  speaker  of  the  House  of  Delegates  of  Virginia, 
that  the  Deponent  knows  the  Hand  writing  and  subscribing  of  the 
said  John  Tyler  and  does  verily  believe  his  name  subscribed  to  the 
said  Certificate  to  be  of  the  Hand  writing  of  the  said  John  Tyler — 
That  the  s*aid  Certificate  was  delivered  to  the  Deponent  by  the 
said  James  Rumscy  therein  named  at  the  City  of  Richmond  in 
Virginia  at  which  time  and  place  several  of  the  Gentlemen  of  the 
House  of  Delegates  were  present  and  did  see  and  read  the  said 
Certificate — and  further  the  Deponent  saith  not. 

James  M^Mechen 

Sworn  the  third  day  of  Dec^  1784 
before  me 

John  McKesson  Not«  Pub. 


To  the  honourable  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  New  York  m 
Senate  and  Assembly  convened 

The  Petition  of  James  Rumsey  of  Berkeley  County  in  the  State 
of  Virginia  by  Joseph  Barnes  at  present  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia 
his  attorney  for  the  special  Purpose  duly  constituted 
Most  respectfully  sheweth 

Tliat  your  Petitioner  hath  invented  a  mode  of  raising  Water  in 
great  Quantities  to  any  Height  from  below  or  above  the  surface  of 
the  Earth  by  means  of  Steam  acting  upon  two  pistons  at  the  same 
time,  whereby  mines  may  be  drained.  Cities  or  farming  Grounds 
be  watered^  and  mills  supplied  with  a  constant  Stream  at  an  expence 
far  less  than  by  any  mode  hitherto  used  or  invented,  a  Draft  or 
Specification  of  which  Invention  with  an  Explanation  of  its  Use  is 
ready  to  be  delivered  to  this  Honble  House  &  to  be  filed  on  Record 
in  any  public  Office  which  they  may  think  most  proper  to  preserve 
the  same  ; 

Tour  Petitioner  therefore  prays  that  this  Honble  House  will  be 
pleased  to  give  him  Leave  to  introduce  a  Bill  to  be  enacted  into  a 
Law  granting  &  securing  to  your  Petitioner  his  Executors  Adminis- 
trators and  Assigns  the  Exclusive  right  and  Privilege  of  making 
consti'ucting  and  using  machines  for  raising  Water  for  all.  Purposes 
v^hatsoeve'r  by  the  Action  of  Steam  applied  to  two  Pistons  at  the 


1092  EARLY  STEAM 

same  time,  in  the  manner  and  upon  the  principles  by  him  invented 
Sl  defined  in  the  said  Draft  Explanation  and  Specification. 

And  your  Petitioner  &ca 

James  Rumsey, 
•  By  Joseph  Barns. 

his  attorney. 

Endorsed,  No.  62.  1788* 

A  petition  of  James  Rumsey  by  Joseph  Barnes  his  attorne) 
praying  an  exclusive  Right  of  making  constructing  and  using 
machines  for  raising  water  (by  means  of  steam)  for  all  purposes 
whatever. 

In  Assembly  December  23^  1788.  Read  and  Referred  to  M*^ 
G  Livingston  Mr.  Havens  and       Van  Cortlandt 


The  Committee  to  whom  were  referred  the  Petition  of  James 
Rumsey  setting  forth  that  he  hath  invented  a  new  method  of  pro 
pelling  Boats  by  Steam,  and  hath  made  improvements  in  divers 
Engines  and  Machines  and  Praying  for  an  exclusive  Right  to  the 
same  for  a  limited  time,  and  the  Petition  of  John  Fitch  praying 
that  the  Prayer  of  the  Petition  of  the  said  James  Rumsey  may  not 
be  granted  ;  and  the  Petition  of  John  Stevens  setting  forth  that  he 
*iath  invented  a  method  of  propelhng  Boats  by  steam  that  he  does 
not  interfere  with  the  pretensions  of  either  the  said  James  Rumsey 
or  John  Fitch — Report 

That  they  have  examined  the  Petitions  of  the  said  James  Rumsey 
and  John  Fitch  with  the  papers  and  affidavits  accompanying  the 
same  and  are  of  opinion  that  the  said  James  Rumsey  hath  by 
actual  experiment  ascertained  the  practicability  of  propelling  boats  by 
the  agency  of  Steam  in  a  mode  and  on  principles  different  from  those 
heretofore  used  by  the  said  John  Fitch,  but  that  the  act  securing  to 
John  Fitch  the  exclusive  Right  of  propelling  Boats  by  the  force 
of  Fire  or  steam  for  a  limited  time,  is  conceived  in  such  general 
terms  that  it  would  be  improper  to  vacate  any  part  of  the  said  grant 
without  giving  both  the  Parties  a  hearing;  but  the  Committee  are 
further  of  opinion  that  nothing  in  the  said  Act  securing  to  John 
Fitch  tlie  exclusive  Right  of  propelling  Boats  by  Fire  or  Steam 
can  be  construed  to  prevent  the  Legislature  frorn  securirfg  to  James 
Rumsey  for  a  limited  time  the  exclusive  right  of  generating  Kteam 


f 


KAVIGATIOW.  1093 

by  his  new  invented  method  of  a  Pipe  Boiler,  and  further  that  they 
have  examined  the  Petition  of  John  Stevens  and  the  Draughts 
accompanying  the  same  and  are  of  Opinion  that  the  method  pro- 
posed by  him  for  propelling  boats  by  steam  does  not  materially 
dilfer  in  its  principles  from  the  mode  proposed  by  James  Rumsey 
and  that  he  stands  in  the  same  situation  with  respect  to  John  Fitch 
as  the  said  James  Rumsey  and  further  that  the  committee  have 
prepared  the  draught  of  a  Bill  securing  to  James  Rumsey  the 
exclusive  right  to  his  inventions  for  a  limited  time  which  they  have 
directed  their  Chairman  to  report  to  the  House 


To  the  honourable  the  Legislative  Council  and  General  Assembly 
of  the  state  of  New  York 

The  Petition  of  John  Fitch  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia  humbly 
sheweth 

That  your  Petitioner  received  notice  on  the  10^^  of  this  Ins^from 
Joseph  Barnes  attorney  for  James  Rumsey,  that  he  was  about  to 
petition  your  honourable  House  for  an  exclusive  right  to  a  Steam 
Boat  and  a  ^Pipe  Boiler. 

Your  Petitioner  humbly  begs  leave  to  represent  that  by  a  law 
passed  in  the  year  1787,  your  honourable  Legislature  vested  in 
your  Petitioner  the  exclusive  Right  for  a  term  of  years  of  propel- 
ling Vessels  through  the  Water  by  the  agency  of  Steam,  which 
exclusive  Right  hath  also  been  granted  him  in  the  States  of  New 
Jersey,  Pensylvania  and  Delaware,  to  whose  several  Legislatures 
James  Rumsey  had  made  application  with  a  view  of  destroying  the 
Right  of  your  Petitioner,  under  the  pretence  of  using  a  different 
mode  in  application  of  Steam  to  the  propelling  of  Boats  and  also 
under  a  pretence  of  an  invention  of  boiling  water  in  a  pipe  for  the 
purpose  of  creating  Steamy  which  idea  of  boiling  in  a  Pipe  was  by 
your  Petitioner  laid  before  the  Philosophical  Society  in  Philadelphia 
some  months  before  the  time  assumM  by  the  said  Rumsey,  as  the 
period  of  his  first  invention,  and  that  the  mode  of  propelling  by 
forcing  water  out  abaft,  which  he  claims  as  his  invention,  was 
published  by  Mons.  Bernoulli  in  the  year  1738,  consequently  was 
open  to  common  use,  and  thereby  included  in  the  Law  to  your 
Petitioner. 


1094 


EARLY  STEAM 


Your  Petitioner  hath  succesefully  opposed  the  said  Rumsey  in 
his  applications  to  the  said  Assemblies,  and  hath  hitherto  preserved 
his  Rights  inviolate,  the  report  of  the  Committee  of  Seven  leading 
Members  of  the  honorable  Assembly  of  Pennsylvania,  after  a 
debate  of  five  days,  supported  on  the  side  of  M^.  Rumsey  by  an 
eminent  Attorney  at  Law,  your  Petitioner  begs  leave  to  annex 
herewith.  Since  which  he  has  made  two  fruitless  attempts  to 
destroy  my  just  and  legal  Rights  in  the  state  of  Delaware  and  New 
Jersey ; 

In  Virginia  your  petitioner  hath  also  obtained  an  exclusive.  Right 
being  the  State  in  which  said  Rumsey  resided,  without  the  least 
opposition  from  him  or  any  of  his  friends,  notwithstanding  from 
my  first  petitioning  that  Assembly,  to  obtaining  the  Law  was  more 
than  one  Year  and  Eleven  Months,  your  Petitioner  hath  not  hitherto 
been  informed  whether  he  has  made  application  in  that  State  or  not, 
but  doubts  not  from  the  justness  and  stability  of  that  honourable 
Body  that  they  will  not  take  his  just  Rights  from  him  without 
hearing  the  defence  of  your  Petitioner. 

Your  Petitioner  therefore  humbly  prays,  that  in  case  a  Petition 
should  be  presented  by  the  said  attorney,  which  may  interfere  with 
your  Petitioner's  Rights,  either  in  the  Steam  Boat  or  the  Pipe 
Boiler,  so  long  in  use  in  your  Petitioners  Boat  on  the  River 
Delaware  and  a  Machine  necessary  for  the  completion  of  that 
design  for  which  your  Law  was  given,  he  humbly  prays  to  be  heard 
in  the  defence  of  his  Rights,  Your  petitioner  is  perfectly  willing 
to  rest  the  justice  of  his  claim,  either  before  your  honourable 
House  or  before  the  New  Congress,  if  your  honourable  House 
should  judge  it  most  expedient  to  refer  the  same  to  them. 

Your  Petitioner  begs  leave  to  observe,  that  such  repeated 
vexatious  applications  seem  calculated  to  divert  your  Petitioner 
from  pursuing  the  business  of  the  Boat,  or  to  promote  a  clashing  of 
Laws  among^st  the  different  States,  or  to  destroy  his  resources  in 
defending  his  just  Rights,  and  prevent  l;iim  from  compleating  the 
great  undertaking  he  has  now  on  hands. 

Your  Petitioner  humbly  begs  leave  to  represent,  that  he  hath 
expended  a  great  portion  of  his  time,  and  a  great  sum  of  money 
in  perfecting  said  Boat,  in  full  confidence  of  enjoying  an  uninter-^ 
'  rupted  possession  of  the  several  grants  to  him  made. 


I 


NATATION.  1096 

Under  the  said  confidence  a  number  of  Gentlemen  have  advanced 
money  to  a  very  considerable  amount  hoping  to  benefit  themselves 
as  well  as  their  Country  thereby.  Your  petitioner  therefore  humbly 
prays  that  the  grant  made  to  him,  may  not  be  permitted  to  be 
violated  or  invaded  by  a  subsequent  pretender,  and  considering 
the  very  great  and  expensive  journey,  and  my  inabilities  to  perform 
it,  not  only  on  account  of  the  great  expense  but  the  infirmities  of 
body  occasioned  by  Rheumatick  pains,  and  the  great  confidence 
reposed  in  your  honourable  Legislature  of  keeping  inviolate  the 
solemnity s  of  their  Laws.  However  convenient  it  might  be  for  me 
to  attend,  I  am  of  opinion  that  it  would  be  altogether  unnecessary. 

But  should  your  honorable  House  think  proper  to  take  up  the 
business,  I  humbly  pray  that  I  may  be  seasonably  notified  by  your 
honourable  House  for  the  defence  of  my  just  and  Legal  Rights, 
and  that  they  may  not  b^  taken  from  me  withc^ut  the  opportunity 
of  being  heard  in  my  own  defence. 

Your  Petitioner  humbly  begs  leave  to  refer  your  honourable 
House  to  the  annexed  Papers  and  Pamphlets,  accompanying  this 

And  your  Petitioner  as  in  duty  bound  w  ill  ever  pray 

JOHN  FITCH. 

To  the  Honorable  Legislature  of  the  State  of  New-York  in 
Senate  and  Assembly  convened. 

The  Petition  of  James  Rumsey  of  Beiikely  County,  in 
THE  State  of  Virginia, 

Most  Respectfully  Shewetk^ 

That  your  petitioner-  has  been  several  years  employed,  with 
unremitted  attention,  and  at  a  great  expense,  in  invei^ting,  and 
bringing  to  perfection,  sundr)'^  machines  and  engines  ;  namely,  one 
for  propelling  boats  on  the  water,  by  the  power  of  steam ,  which 
has  been  already  accomplished  in  experiments,  on  a  boat  of  about 
six  tons  burthen ;  another  machine,  constructed  on  similar 
principles,  for  raising  water  at  a  small  expence,  to  be  applied  to 
the  working  of  mills  of  different  kinds,  as  well  as  to  various  useful 
purposes  in  agriculture;  a  new  invented  boiler  for  generating 
steam ;  &nd  also  other  machines,  by  means  of  which  Grist  and 
Saw  Mills  may  be  30  improved  in  their  construction,  by  a  very 


1096  E1ARLY^«TEAM 

cheap,  and  simple  machine,  as  to  require  the  application  of  much 
less  water,  than  is  necessary  in  the  common  mode. 

Your  petitioner  humbly  conceives,  that  advantages  of  great 
importance  to  the  agriculture  and  mercantile  interests  of  the  United 
States,  may  be  derived  from  the  use  and  employment,  therein,  of 
the  before  mentioned  engines  and  machines  ;  but  he  begs  leave  to 
represent  to  the  honorable  Legislature,  that,  without  some 
encouragement  and  support  from  the  government,  he  will  not  be 
enabled  to  prosecute  his  discoverys,  and  to  carry  his  aforesaid 
inventions  and  improvements  into  execution  ;  whereby  the  public 
would  be  deprived  of  the  benefits  that  might  result  from  them  ; 
and  your  petitioner  greatly  injured,  by  the  sacrifices  he  has  made 
of  his  time  and  property. 

Your  petitioner  deems  it  unnecessary,  in  this  stage  of  his 
application  to  your  honorable  body,  to  enter  into  a  detail  of  the 
nature  and  principles  of  the  improvements,  to  w^hich  his  present 
petition  relates  :  He  therefore  takes  the  liberty  of  referring  to  the 
printed  papers,  herewith  presented,  for  further  information  on  the 
subject,  and  he  flatters  himself,  that  on  mature  consideration,  your 
honorable  body  will  be  fully  satisfied,  both  of  the  practicability  of 
his  plans,  and  of  their  importance,  as  an  object  of  great  public 
utility — Under  this  impression,  he  respectfully  solicits  the  patronage 
of  the  Legislature  of  this  state. 

Your  Petitioner  therefore  prays,  that  the  honorable  Legislature, 
as  the  guardians  and  trustees  of  the  public  prosperity,  will  be 
pleased  to  enact  a  law,  granting  as  a  reward  for  his  before  men- 
tioned inventions  and  improvements,  an  exclusive  right  to  him,  his 
executors,  administrators  and  assigns,  of  constructing,  navigating 
and  employing,  for  a  certain  term  of  years,  within  this  state,  the 
several  boats,  engines,  and  machines,  by  him  invented  and 
improved. 

And  your  petitioner  humbly  submits  to  the  judgement  of  this 
house  .whether  in  consideration  of  the  great  expencehe  has  already 
incurred  in  the  prosecution  of  his  objects,  and  the  further  charges 
which  must  necessarily  attend  the  completion  of  his  plans,  the 
exclusive  right  prayed  for  should  not  be  vested  for  such  a  term,  as 


NAVIGATION. 


109T 


mighi  afford  him  an  honorable  corapensationj  proportioned  to  his 
services. 

JAMES  RUMSEY. 

Endorsed,  1788 

James  Rumsey's  Petition         -  . 
In  Assembly  Dec.  18^^  1788 

Read  &  Referred  with  the  Pamphlet  &  papers  attending  the 
same  to      G.  Livingston  M*".  Havens  &      .  Van  Cortlandt 


Extract  of  the  printed  minutes  of  the  Assembly  of  the  state  of 
Virginia — 

Saturday  Nov^  15'"  1788. 
A  petition  of  James  Rurasey^  by  George  Morrow  his  attorney 
m  fact,  was  presented  to  the  house  and  read  setting  forth,  that  he 
is  the  original  discoverer  and  inventor  of  sundry  machines  and 
engines,  for  propelling  boats  on  the  ^vater  by  the  power  of  steam  ;. 
for  which  an  exclusive  priviledge  was  granted  by  an  act  of  the  last 
assembly  to  a  certain  John  Fitch,  that  he  is  well  prepared  to  prove 
his  prior  claim  to  the  said  discovery,  as  also  to  manifest  the 
advantages  thereof,  and  praying  that  the  act  in  favour  of  the  said 
John  Fitch,  may  be  repealed. 

Ordered  that  the  said  petition  be  referred  to  M*"  Trage,  M*^ 
Henryj  Randolph,  M'  Carlins,  M-^  Bland,  M'  White,  M""  David 
Stuart,  M^.  Carrington  and  M*'.  King,  that  they  do  examme  the 
matter  thereof  &  report  the  same  with  their  opinion  thereupon  to 
the  House." 

Thursday  the  20*^  of  November,  1788 

"The  speaker  laid  before  the  house  a  letter  and  petition  of 
John  Fitch,  praying  that  he  may  still  enjoy  the  exclusive  priviledge 
of  conducting  steamboats  within  this  state,  which  was  granted 
to  him,  by  an  Act  of  the  last  session  of  Assembly  ;  and,  that  all 
attempts  to  interfere  with  this  right,  may  be  disregarded  ;  which 
was  read  and  ordered  to  referred,  to  the  committee  to  whom  the 
petition  of  James  Rumsey  was  referred." 

Fiyday  the  Sl^t  of  November  1788.— 

« David  Stuart  reported  from  the  committee  to  whom  the^ 


1098  EAJBLLY  STKAJW 

petitions  of  James  Rumsey  and  John  Fitch  were  committed,  thai 
the  committee  had  according  to  order,  had  the  same  under  their 
consideration,  and  had  agreed  upon  a  report,  and  came  to  several 
resolutions  thereupon,  which  he  read  in  his  place,  and  afterwards 
delivered  in  at  the  clerks  table,  when  the  same  were  again  twice 
read,  and  agreed  to  by  the  house  as  foUoweth 

"Whereas  James  Rumsey  hath  complained  to  the  Genera] 
Assembly,  that  the  exclusive  priviledge  granted  to  John  Fitch,  by 
the  Act  intituled  "  An  Act  Granting  to  John  Fitch  the  exclusive 
privilege  of  constructing  and  navigating  boats  impelled  by  lire  or 
steam  for  a  limited  time,"  hath  been  obtained  to  the  injury  of  hira 
the  said  James  Rumsey,  upon  a  misrepresentation,  that  the  said 
John  Fitch  was  the  origiaal  author  of  the  invention  therein 
mentioned. 

And  whereas  it  appears  to  the  satisfaction  of  your  committee, 
from  the  testimony  produced  to  them,  that  the  said  Rumsey's 
representation  is  just,  and  that  be  is  the  original  author  of  the 
invention  mentioned  in  the  said  act, — 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  committee,  That  the  act 
passed  at  the  last  session  of  the  general  Assembly,  intituled  "  An 
act  granting  to  John  Fitch  the  exclusive  privilege  of  constructing 
and  navigating  boats  impelled  by  fire  or  steam,  for  a  limited  time'^ 
ought  to  be  repealed. 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Committee,  That  the 
petition  of  the  said  John  Fitch,  in  opposition  thereto  be  rejected. 

Ordered  that  a  Bill  or  Bills  be  brought  in,  pursuant  to  the  las* 
resolution,  and  that  the  said  Committee,  do  prepare  and  bring  in 
the  same,'' 

A  true  extract  from  the  minutes 
examined 

By  Gilbert  Livingstone 

11th.  February  1789— Albany. 

Endorsed, 

Extract  from  the  minutes  of  the  House  of  Assembly  of  Virginia 
on  the  Petition  &c.  of  Jam^s  Rumsey. 


NAVIGATION. 


1090 


An  ACT /or  vesting  in  JAMES  RUMSEYj  Esguirtj  the  exclusive 
right  and  privilege  of  mahmg^  using  and  vending  divers  engines^ 
machines  and  devices^  by  him  invented^  or  improt>ed^  for  a  term 
-of  years  therein  mentioned. 

Whereas  James  Rumsey,  of  Berkeley  coimtyj  in  Virginia,  hath 
represented  to  this  House,  that  he  hath  invented,  or  improved  divers 
engines,  machines,  and  devices,  hereinafter  particularly  mentioned, 
upon  principles  and  constructions  not  before  used,  and  by  actual  ex- 
periments, hath  demonstrated  the  practicability  and  utility  thereof, 
and  hath  in  the  office  of  plans  of  the  said  several  inven- 

tions and  improvements,  with  explanations  thereof,  in  order  parti- 
cularly to  designate  and  distinguish  them  from  other  engines, 
machines,  and  devices  heretofore  used  for  purposes  somewhat 
similar.  Which  engines,  machines  and  devices,  are  called  by  the 
following  names,  and  known  by  the  following  distinguishing  char- 
acters, viz. 

RuMSE¥'s  Pipe  Boiler,  for  the  more  ample  and  easy  generating 
of  steam,  by  passing  a  small  quantity  of  water  through  an  incur- 
vated  tube,  placed  in  a  furnace,  whereby  the  action  of  fire  is 
communicated  to.-the  water  and  steam  in  all  its  passage  from  the 
entrance  to  the  exit,  and  which  kind  of  boiler  c^n  be  easily  adapted 
to  every  species  of  fire  or  steam  engines. 

Rumsey's  Steam  Boat,  a  practical  mode  of  propelling  vessels 
by  means  of  the  reaction  of  a  stream  of  water,  forced  by  the 
agency  of  steam  through  a  trunk  or  cylinder,  parallel  to  the  keel, 
out  at  the  stern, 

RuMSEY's  iMPROVEMEjrr  UpoN  Savery's  MAC^iI^■E,  or  steam 
engine,  whereby  water  may  be  raised  in  great  quantities  to  any 
reasonable  height,  for  the  turning  of  mills,  or  for  agricultural  or 
other  purposes. 

RuMSEv's  Improvement  Upon  Doctor  Barker's  Mill,  a  mode 
by  which  millstoBes  and  other  machinery,  requiring  a  circular  or 
retrograde  motion,  may  be  turned  by  or  worked  with  a  smaller 
quantity  of  water  tlian  by  any  plan  yet  exhibited  to  the  public, 
aild  entirely  free  from  the  difficulties  which  prevented  Doctor 
Barker's  invention  from  coming  into  use. 

Rumsey's  Cylindric  Saw  Mill,  or  a  mode  by  which  mill 
sa\vs  and  all  other  miichinery,  requiring  an  alternately  opposite 


1100 


EARLY  STEAM 


motiorij  whether  perpendicular  or  horizontal,  may  be  worked 
without  the  loss  of  the  weight  or  force  of  any  part  of  the  water 
used. 

And  Whereas  it  is  highly  proper,  that  ingenious  men  who 
by  their  labours  and  study  contrive  and  invent  improvements  in 
arts  and  sciences,  should  be  rewarded  by  the  community,  in 
proportion  to  the  advantages  resulting  from  the  usefulness  of  their 
inventions;  and  as  the  most  proper  mode  of  ascertaining  the  utility 
of  any  new  invention  or  improvement,  must  be  experience ;  and 
as  the  exclusive  right  and  privilege  of  making,  using,  and  vending 
to  others,  such  newly  invented  engines,  machines  and  inventions, 
is  not  only  the  most  cheap  and  frugal,  but  the  most  certain  w^ay  of 
rewarding  inventors  according  to  their  several  merits, 

It  is  therefore  hereby  enacted^  by  the 
and  by  the  authority  of  the  same,  that  from  and  after  the  passing 
of  this  act,  the  said  James  Rumsey  his  executors,  administrators 
and  assigns,  shall  have  the  sole  and  exclusive  right,  liberty  and 
privilege  within  the  state,  of  making,  using  and  vending  to  others, 
the  said  Boiler  for  generating  steam,  so  as  aforesaid  described, 
and  called  Rumsey's  Pipe  Boiler  ;  the  said  Steam  Boat  to  be 
propelled  through  the  water,  by  means  of  the  re-action  of  a  stream 
of  water  forced  by  steam  through  a  trunk  or  cylinder  from  the 
stern  of  the  boat,  against  the  surrounding  water,  so  as  aforesaid 
described,  and  called  Rumsey's  Steam  Boat  ;  the  said  improve- 
ment of  Savery's  Engine,  for  raising  water  for  the  turning  of 
mills,  or  for  agricultural  or  other  purposes  so  as  aforesaid  described, 
and  called  Rumsey's  improvement  upon  Savery's  machine,  or 
Steam  Engine  ;  the  said  mode  for  turning  mill  stones,  and  other 
machinery  requiring  a  circular  or  retrograde  motion,  called  . 
Rumsey's  improvement  upon  Doctor  Barker's  mill,  and  the  said 
mode  of  working  saw-mills,  and  other  machines  requiring  an 
alternately  opposite  motion,  perpendicular  or  horizontal,  called 
Rumsey's  Saw  Mill  ;  all  which  engines,  machines  and  devices, 
are  more  particularly  defined  and  described  in  the  said  plans,  and 
explanations  so  as  aforCvSaid  filed  of  record  in  the  office  of 
and  to  which  definitions  and  descriptions,  for  farther  certainty,  this 
act  particularly  refers. 


NAVIGATION. 


noj 


jirid  it  is  hereby  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid  j  that 
no  person  or  persons  whomsoever,  shall  make,  use,  or  vend  to 
others  to  be  used,  any  or  either  of  the  inventions  or  improvements 
80  as  aforesaid  described  or  defined  in  this  act,  or  in  the  plans  or 
explanations  filed  of  record  in  the  said  office,  and  hereby  referred 
unto  ;  or  any  engine,  machine  or  device  whatsoever,  formed  or 
contrived  upon  the  same  principles  therewith,  although  the  form 
thereof  may  be  varied,  under  the  penalty  of  forfeiting  to  the  said 
James  Rumsey,  his  executors,  administrators  or  assigns,  the  sum 
of  lawful  money  of  this  state  ;  and  moreover  forfeiting 

to  him  and  them,  all  and  every  such  engine,  machine  and  device, 
so  as  aforesaid  to  be  contrived,  made,  used  or  vended  within  this 
state  'j  the  said  penalty  to  be  recovered  by  action  of  debt,  founded 
upon  this  act,  wherein  no  essoine,  protection  or  wager  of  law,  nor 
more  than  one  imparlance,  shall  be  allowed,  And  in  the  execution 
to  be  issued  upon  any  judgment  obtained  in  pursuance  of  this  act, 
a  clause  shall  be  inserted,  commanding  the  sheriff  or  other  proper 
officer  to  deliver  the  said  engine,  device  or  machine,  to  the  plaintiff  if 
it  can  be  conveniently  removed  ;  but  if  not,  that  then  and  in  such 
a  case,  the  said  sheriff,  or  other  proper  officer,  shall  cause  the  same 
to  be  prostrated,  destroyed  and  rendered  useless,  any  law  to  the 
contrary  notwithstanding. 

And  it  is  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  that  the 
sole  and  exclusive  right  and  privilege  for  making,  using  and  vend- 
ing the  engines,  machines  and  devices  aforesaid,  by  this  act  granted 
to  the  said  James  Rumsey,  his  executors,  administrators  and  assigns, 
shall  continue  for  the  terra  of  years  from  the  time  of  passing 

this  act,  and  no  longer :  And  that  all  actions  to  him  or  them  accrued, 
or  accruing  within  the  said  term,  shall  remain  in  full  force  during 
and  after  the  expiration  of  this  act 
Endorsed, 

Act  for  vesting  in 

James  Rumsey  &c  &c. 


1102 


EARLY  STEAM  NAVIGATION. 


To  the  Honourable  the  Legislature  of  the  Statt 
of  New-York  in  Senate  and  Assembly  convened 
The  Petition  of  John  Stevens  Jun'"  of  Hoboken  in  the  State  of 
New  Jersey. 

That  your  Petitioner  has  bestowed  a  great  deal  of  Time  and 
Thought  towards  perfecting  a  Machine  for  propelling  a  Vessel 
through  the  Water  by  means  of  Steam.  That  he  has  at  length 
brought  his  Invention  to  that  degree  of  perfection.  That  as  he 
conceives  little  or  no  further  Improvement  can  be  made  on  it — 
That  to  the  best  of  his  Knowledge  &  Belief  his  Scheme  is  alto- 
gether new  or  at  least  does  not  interfere  with  the  Inventions  of 
either  of  the  Gentlemen  who  have  applied  to  your  honourable 
Body  for  an  exclusive  Right  of  navigating  by  means  of  Steam. 

That  your  Petitioner  has  made  an  exact  Draught  of  the  different 
Parts  of  his  machines,  which  with  an  Explanation  Thereof  he  is 
ready  to  exhibit,  provided  that  after  the  Exhibition  Thereof,  no  one 
be  suffered  to  lay  claim  to  any  Invention  therein  described  unless 
he  shall  have  before  exhibited  a  draught  or  model  Thereof  to  your 
honorable  body — and  your  petitioner  therefore  prays  That  in  case 
his  machine  should  appear  to  be  a  new  and  useful  Invention,  That 
the  Honble  the  Legislature  would  be  pleased  to  grant  to  him  an 
exclusive  privilege  and  Right  of  using  the  same  for  the  purposes 
of  navigation  throughout  the  State  of  New-York  for  such  term  of 
V^ears  as  shall  seem  meet  Ajid  your  Petitioner 

shall  ever  pray 

presented— "9  January  178P  John  Stevens  Jud^ 


PAPERS 


K«I*ATlWO  TO 


-fork 


DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  COUNTRY  BETWEEN  ALBANY  & 
NIAGARA  IN  1792. 


[1  Mass.  Hist.  Coll.  1.} 

I  am  just  returned  from  Niagara,  about  560  mites  west  of 
Boston.  I  went  first  to  Albany,  from  thence  to  Schenectada, 
about  Sixteen  miles ;  this  has  been  a  very  considerable  place  of 
trade,  but  is  now  falling  to  decay  :  It  was  supported  by  the  Indian 
traders  ;  but  this  business  is  so  arrested  by  traders  far  in  the  country, 
that  very  little  of  it  reached  so  far  down  :  it  stands  upon  the 
Mohawk  river,  about  9  miles  above  the  Falls,  called  the  Gohoes ; 
but  this  I  take  to  be- the  Indian  name  for  Falls :  Its  chief  business 
is  to  receive  the  merchandize  from  Albany,  and  put  it  into  batteaux, 
to  go  up  the  river,  and  forward  to  Albany  Such  produce  of  the 
back  country  as  is  sent  to  market.  After  leaving  Schenectada,  I 
travelled  over  a  most  beautiful  country  of  eighty  miles  to  Fort 
Schuyler,  where  I  forded  the  Mohawk  :  This  extent  was  the  scene 
of  British  and  Savage  cruelty,  during  the  late  war,  and  they  did 
not  cease,  while  anything  remained  to  destroy.  What  a  contrast 
now  !  every  house  and  barn  rebuilt,  the  pastures  crowded  with 
cattle.  Sheep,  &c  and  the  lap  of  Ceres  full.  Most  of  the  land  on 
each  Side  of  the  Mohawk  river,  is  a  rich  flat  highly  cultivated  with 
every  species  of  grain,  the  land  on  each  side  the  flats,  rising  In 
agreeable  Slopes ;  this,  added  to  the  view  of  a  fme  river  passing 
through  the  whole,  gives  the  beholder  the  most  pleasing  Sensations 
imaginable. 

I  passed  next  through  Whitestown.  It  would  appear  to  you,  my 
friend,  on  hearing  the  relation  of  events  in  the  western  countryj 
that  the  whole  was  fable ;  and  if  you  were  placed  in  Whitestown, 
or  Clinton,  ten  miles  west  from  Fort  Schuyler,  and  see  the  pro- 
gress of  improvement,  you  would  believe  it  enchanted  ground. 
You  would  there  view  an  extensive  well  built  town,  surrounded 
by  highly  cultivated  fields,  which  Spot  in  the  year  17£*3  was  ih& 

voL„  II.  70 


1106 


PAPERS   RELATING  TO 


"  haunt  of  tribes^'  and  the  hiding  place  of  wolves,  now  a  flourishing 
happy  Situation,  conl^aining  about  Six  thousand  people— Clinton 
stands  a  little  South  of  Whitestown,  and  is  a  very  large  thriving 
town. 

After  passing  Clinton,  there  are  no  inhabitants  upon  the  road, 
until  you  reach  Oneida,  an  Indian  town,  the  first  of  the  Six  Nations; 
it  contains  about  Five  hundred  and  fifty  inhabitants ;  here  I  slept, 
and  found  the  natives  very  friendly.  The  next  day  I  went  on  to 
Onondaga,  leaving  the  Oneida  lake  on  the  right,  and  the  Onondaga 
lake  on  the  left,  each  a  few  miles  distant.    I  slept  at  Onondaga, 

at  the  house  of  a  Mr.  ,  who  is  employed  in  boiling  down  the 

waters  of  the  Salt  springs,  which  are  about  7  miles  north  of  his 
house,  for  supplying  the  country  with  Salt — he  told  me  that  he 
made  about  fifty  bushels  per  week,  which  he  sold  at  five  shillings 
per  bushel,  but  that  any  quantity  may  be  made,  and  at  a  less  price; 
these  springs  are  in  the  State  reservation,  and  are  a  wonderful  benefit 
.0  the  country,  every  part  of  which  is  so  united  by  lakes  and 
rivers  as  to  render  the  Supply  of  this  bulky  and  necessary  article 
very  easy.  Independent  of  our  own  Settlements,  we  can  supply 
the  British  in  the  whole  of  Upper  Canada. 

Thirty  five  miles  from  this  place  I  struck  the  Cayuga  j^Ke.  The 
road  is  tolerable  for  a  new  country  ;  the  land  excellent,  and  very 
heavy  timbered.  There  are  but  three  houses  upon  this  road.  This 
lake  is  from  about  thirty  five  to  forty  miles  along,  about  two  miles 
wide,  and  abounds  with  Salmon,  bass,  catfish,  eels  and  many 
other  kinds  of  fish.  This  lake  empties  itself  into  what  is  called 
Three  Rivers,  joining  the  waters  of  the  Oneida  Lake,  and  then 
proceeds  by  Oswego  into  Ontario.  On  each  side  the  Cayuga  Lake 
is  a  ferry  house  and  good  attendance  given. 

Twelve  miles  west  of  the  Cayuga  I  struck  the  Canada  Saga 
lake — no  inhabitant  upon  this  road — this  lake  is  the  handsomest 
piece  of  water  I  ever  beheld  ;  its  length  and  breadth  nearly  that 
of  Cayuga,  into  which  it  empties.  Upon  a  pretty  slope,  on  the 
new  part  of  the  lake,  stands  a  towm,  called  Geneva  ;  it  has  a  fine 
effect  from  the  opposite  shore,  but  disappoints  you  when  you  arrive 
at  it.  It  consists  of  about  twenty  log  houses,  three  or  four  frame 
buildings,  and  as  many  idle  persons  as  can  live  in  them.  Eighteen 


\VESTERN  NEW-YORK. 


miles  lower,  on  the  same  side  of  this  lake  stands  the  Friends' 
Settlement,  founded  by  Jemima  Wilkinson  ;  there  are  eighty  fami- 
lies in  it,  each  has  a  fine  farm,  and  are  quiet,  moral,  industrious 
people.  There  is  a  road  from  the  Friends'  Settlement  nearly 
completed,  across  the  country  to  Genesee  river,  forty-five  miles. 
I  went  from  Geneva  to  Canadaqua,  sixteen  miles,  crossing  the 
outlet  of  Canadaqua  lake,  just  as  I  entered  the  town.  This  is  a 
settlement  made  by  Mr  Phelps,  ^nd  promises  to  be  a  very  flour- 
ishing one  ;  there  are  now  about  thirty  houses  situated  on  a  pleasant 
slope  from  the  lake,  and  the  adjacent  farms  are  very  thriving.  The 
Indians  are  settled  on  all  the  reservations  made  by  this  state,  and 
are  to  be  met  with  at  every  settlement  of  whites,  in  quest  of  rum! 

From  Canandaqua  I  trayelled  about  twenty  six  miles  through  a 
fine  country,  with  many  settlements  forming  ;  this  brought  me  to 
Genesee  river.  On  this  river  a  great  many  farms  are  laying  out : 
sixty-five  miles  from  its  mouth  is  a  town  marked  out  by  the  name 
of  Williamsburgh,  and  will  in  all  probability  be  a  place  of  much 
trade  ;  in  the  present  situation  of  things  it  is  remote,  when  considered 
in  a  commercial  point  of  view  ;  but  should  the  fort  of  Oswego  be 
given  up,  and  the  lock  navigation  be  completed,  there  will  not  be 
a  carrying  place  between  New-York  and  Williamsburgh.  The 
present  carrying  places  are  as  follow,  viz.  Albany  to  Schenectada, 
sixteen  miles — the  Little  Falls,  on  the  Mohawk  river,  two  miles — 
from  the  head  of  the  Mohawk  to  Wood  creek,  one  mile — Oswego 
Falls,  two  miles — Genesee  falls,  two  miles.  Thus  you  see  there 
is  only  twenty-three  miles  to  cut  and  lock,  in  order  to  carry 
commerce  by  water,  through  an  extent  of  country,  capable  of  main- 
taining several  millions  of  people.  The  famous  Genesee  flats  lie 
on  the  borders  of  Genesee  river  ;  they  are  about  twenty  miles  in 
length,  and  about  four  miles  wide  ;  the  Soil  is  remarkably  rich,  quite 
clear  of  trees,  and  producing  grass  near  ten  feet  high.  I  estimate 
these  flats  to  be  well  worth  200,0001.  as  they  now  lie.  They  are 
mostly  the  property  of  the  Indians.  Taking  a  view  of  this  country 
altogether,  I  do  not  know  such  an  extent  of  ground  so  good. 
Cultivation  is  easy,  and  the  land  is  grateful.  The  progress  of 
settlement  is  so  rapid,  that  you  and  myself  may  very  probably  see 
the  day  when  we  can  apply  these  lines  to  the  Genesee  coururv— 


1108 


PAPEKS  RELATlNa  TO 


*f  Here  happy  millions  their  own  lands  potseM^ 
No  tyrant  awes  thom»  nor  no  lords  oppress.** 

Many  times  did  I  break  out  in  an  enthusiastic  frenzy>  anticipat- 
ing the  probable  situation  of  this  wilderness  twenty  years  hence. 
All  that  leason  can  ask,  may  be  obtained  by  the  industrious  hand, 
the  only  danger  to  be  feared  is,  that  luxuries  will  flow  too  cheap. 

After  1  had  reached  the  Genesee  river,  curiosity  led  me  on  to 
Niagara,  ninety  miles — not  one  house  or  white  man  the  whole 
way.  The  only  direction  I  bad  was  an  Indian  path,  which 
sometimes  was  doubtful.  The  first  day  I  rode  fifty  miles,  through 
swarms  of  musquetoes,  gnats,  beyond  all  description.  At 
eight  o'clock  in  the  evening  I  reached  an  Indian  town,  called 
Tonnoraunto — it  contains  many  hundreds  of  the  Savages,  who  livc 
in  very  tolerable  houses,  which  they  make  of  timber  and  cover 
with  bark.  By  signs  I  made  them  understand  me,  and  for  a  little 
money  they  cut  me  limbs  and  bushes  sufficient  to  erect  a  booth, 
under  which  I  slept  very  quietly,  on  the  grass.  The  next  day  I 
pursued  my  journey,  nine  miles  of  which  lay  through  a  very  deep 
swamp  ;  with  some  difficulty  I  got  through,  and  about  sun-down 
arrived  at  the  fort  of  Niagara  :  Here  the  centinel  inquired  from 
whence  we  came  ;  upon  his  being  told,  he  called  the  sergeant  of 
the  day,  who  escorted  us  to  the  captain  of  the  guard,  he  asked 

our  names,  (a  Mr.  ,  of  ,  was  w4th  me)  and  said  he 

supposed  we  came  upon  our  private  business  &c — he  gent  us  to  the 
commandant  who  entered  our  names,  and  offered  us  a  pass  to  go 
over  to  the  British  side,  which  we  accepted.  Quite  fatigued  we 
were  happy  to  find  a  tavern,  and  something  to  eat ;  a  few  hours 
sleep  brought  me  again  to  myself,  This  fort  is  now  garrisoned  by 
the  regiment,  commanded  formerly  by  Earl  Piercey,  and  had 
the  honour  of  dancing  yankee  doodle  on  the  plains  of  Cambridge, 
19th  April  1775.  The  commander  of  the  fort  is  a  CoL  Smith. 
The  day  after  our  arrival  we  crossed  the  river  Erie  to  the  town  of 
Niagara  where  probably  the  British  fort  will  be  built,  when  the 
present  one  is  given  up.  Vv^e  met  Col.  B.J  This  is  the  man  who 
did  so  much  execution  in  the  late  war  with  the  Indians,  upon  the 
Mohawk  river,  Schohary  and  Cherry  Valley.  We  found  him 
holding  a  council  with  a  body  of  chiefs  who  were  at  Philadelphia 
I  Qtt.  Col.  Butler  ? 


1109 


in  April  last,  mforming  him  what  they  had  done  there,  A  M' 
Johnson,  some  relation  of  the  famous  Sir  John  Johnson,  interpreter 
to  the  Indians  \\^s  also  present ;  and  I  have  no  doubt  remaining 
but  they  eflaced  eTery  favourable  impression  made  on  their  minds 
by  presents  from  Congress.  I  see  enough  to  convince  me  of  the 
absurdity  of  our  endeavours  to  hold  the  Savages  by  presents,  while 
the  British  are  situated  at  Detroit,  Niagara,  They  have  all 

their  clothing,  cooking  utensils,  ammunition,  &^  served  almost  as 
regularly  as  the  troops  in  garrison ;  if  they  want  provisions,  they 
get  it  free. 

Those  tribes  called  the  Six  Nations  we  are  at  peace  with,  and  take 
much  pains  to  cultivate  a  good  understanding,  but  we  deceive 
ourselves.  The  old  men,  the  women,  and  the  children  remain  at 
home  inactive,  while  all  the  young  warriors  join  the  fighting 
powers  against  us — -tins  is  all  they  could  do,  if  w^e  were  at  open 
war  with  them.  An  Indian  becomes  a  miserable  being  when 
deprived  of  his  hunting  ground,  and  surrounded  with  cellars  of  rum 
or  whiskey.  The  whole  Six  Nations  live  on  grounds,  called  the 
State  Reservations,  and  there  are  intermediate  spaces  settled  on  both 
sides  by  white  people  ;  this  has  a  tendency  to  drive  off  the  game 
and  if  by  chance  they  kill  a  bear,  or  a  deer,  his  skin  goes  at  once 
for  rum  ;  in  this  way  they  are  become  poor  enervate  creatures. 
They  cannot  keep  together  a  great  while,  and  I  expect  they  will 
quit  all  this  part  of  the  country,  and  retire  over  the  lakes  Ontario 
and  Erie.  Their  whole  number  is  about  6000,  of  which  1000 
are  w^arriors  —  how  contemptible  compared  with  their  former 
greatness  !  The  leading  men  of  these  Six  Nations,  or  what  they 
call  Chiefs,  were  on  the  road  with  me  going  to  Buffalo  Creek,  to 
hold  a  council ;  their  object  I  was  informed  was  to  use  theii' 
influence  with  the  hostile  tribes  to  make  a  peace.  This  will  have 
no  effect !  Power  is  the  influence  with  Indians  ;  this  alone  will  give 
us  peace.  I  see  some  of  the  Indians  who  fought  the  battle  at  the 
Miami  5  and  by  an  interpreter  received  a  very  tolerable  account  of 
the  action  ;  they  were  of  opinion  that  our  troops  did  not  do  their 
duty. 

Col,  Bo  told  me  that  the  only  way  to  make  a  peace  with  the 
Indians  was  to  apply  to  Lord  Dorchester,  or  the  commander  in  chief 
at  Quebeck,  and  let  him  appoint  some  of  ihe  Commanders  of  the 


1110 


PAPERS  RELATING  TO 


garrisons,  say  Detroit,  Niagara,  to  meet  on  the  part  of  the 
British,  to  draw  a  line  that  shall  be  deemed  right  and  reasonable 
between  the  Americans  and  Indians,  and  have  the  treaty  guaranteed 
to  the  Indians  by  the  British.  I  spurned  at  the  idea,  and  told  Col. 
Butler,  that  it  was  my  wish,  whenever  America  became  so 
contemptible,  that  the  whole  country  might  be  annihilated, 

I  visited  the  great  curiosity,  the  Falls,  and  must  refer  you  to  Mr. 
Ehcott's  account  of  them  in  the  Columbian  Magazine  for  June 
1790. 

I  cannot  help  being  of  opinion  that  Indians,  (or  what  are  called 
Redmen,)  never  were  intended  to  live  in  a  state  of  civil  society. 
There  never  was,  I  believe,  an  instance  of  an  Indian  forsaking  his 
habits  and  savage  manners,  any  more  than  a  bear  his  ferocity. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Kirkland,  who  acts  as  missionary  among  the 
Oneidas,  has  taken  all  the  pains  that  man  can  take,  but  his  whole 
flock  are  Indians  still,  and  like  the  bear  which  you  can  muffle  and 
lead  out  to  dance  to  the  sound  of  music,  becomes  again  a  bear 
when  his  muffler  is  removed  and  the  music  ceases.  The  Indians 
will  attend  public  worship  and  sing  extremely  well,  following  Mr. 
Kirkland's  notes ;  but  whenever  the  service  is  over,  they  wrap 
themselves  in  their  blankets,  and  either  stand  like  cattle  on  the 
sunny  side  of  a  house,  or  he  before  a  hre.  This  is  their  mode  of 
passing  life  :  even  the  bold  energy  of  their  forefathers,  which  was 
conspicuous  in  the  chace,  is  unstrung  in  their  descendants,  and 
instead  of  sliding  to  the  grave  like  a  shock  of  com  in  its  full  ear," 
they  become  ripe  for  it  in  youth  and  often  find  it  by  the  most 
disgraceful  means. 


WESTERN  NEW-YORK. 


nil 


THE  GENESEE  COUNTRY. 
An  AccouNi  OF  the  Soil,  Growing  Timber,  and  other  produc- 
tions of  the  iands  in  the  eountries  situated  in  the  back  parts  of  the 
states  of  New- York  and  Pennsylvania,  in  North  America  ;  and 
particularly  the  lands  in  the  county  of  Ontario,  known  by  the  name 
of  The  Genesee  Tract,  lately  located,  and  now  in  the  progress 
of  being  settled. 

[Imlaj's  Topog.  Deacrip.  of  the  Western  Territory  of  N.  America.] 

The  lands  generally  known  by  the  name  of  the  Genesee  tract, 
are  situated  in  the  back  parts  of  the  state  of  New- York  and 
contain  upwards  of  2,000,000  of  acres,  mostly  good  arable  land, 
forming  nearly  an  oblong  square  of  80  miles  in  length  from  south 
to  north,  and  42  miles  wide  from  east  to  west. 

These  lands  were  granted  to  Messrs.  Gorham  and  Phelps,  the 
original  purchasers  from  the  state  of  Massachussets,  in  the  year 
1788.  And  this  grant  was  afterwards  confirmed  by  the  six  nations 
of  Indians,  who,  on  receiving  a  valuable  consideration,  alienated, 
the  whole  of  this  property,  and  soon  after  these  nations  removed 
themselves  and  families  to  a  distant  country. 

The  south-east  corner  of  this  tract  is  in  latitude  42^,  longitude 
82°;  lying  west  from  the  river  Delaware  ;  and  77  miles  west  from 
Philadelphia. 

The  actual  distance  of  the  eastern  boundary,  from  the  Hudson's 
river.or  Albany,  is  about  140  miles.  From  Philadelphia,  by  the 
ftearest  road,  the  distance  may  be  about  180  jniies  ;  and  not  mone 
than  200  miles  north  of  the  proposed  new  city  of  Columbia,  the 
intended  seat  of  government  of  the  United  States. 

But  the  peculiar  advantages  which  distinguish  these  lands  over 
most  of  the  new  settled  countries  of  America,  are  these  following: 
1.  The  uncommon  excellence  and  fertility  of  the  soil.  2.  The 
superior  quality  of  the  timber,  and  the  advantages  of  easy  culti- 
vation, in  consequence  of  being  generally  free  from  underwood. 
.3.  The  abundance  of  grass  for  cattle  in  the  woods,  and  on  the 
extensive  meadow  grounds  upon  the  lakes  and  rivers.  4.  The 
vast  quantities  of  the  sugar  maple-tree,  in  every  part  of  the  tract. 
5.  The  great  variety  of  other  fine  timber,  such  as  oak,.hiccory, 
tlack  wakut,  chesnut,  ash   of  different  kinds.,  ehi),  butternut 


1115 


PAPEBS  asaLATma  to 


bass\voo(l,  poplar,  pines,  and  also,  thorn  trees  of  a  prodigiouB  size, 
C.  The  variety  of  fiuit-trecs,  and  also  smaller  fruits,  such  as 
apple  and  peach  orchardsjin  different  places,  which  were  planted  by 
the  Indians,  plum  and  cLerry-trecs,  mulberries,  grapes  of  different 
kinds,  raspberries,  huckle-berries,  black-berries,  wild  goose-berries, 
and  straw-berries  in  vast  quantities  ; — also  cranberries,  and  black 
haws,  &c.  7.  The  vast  variety  of  wild  animals  and  game  which 
is  to  be  found  in  this  country,  such  as  deer,  moose  deer,  and  elk 
cf  a  very  large  size,  beavers,  otters,  martins,  minxes,  rabbits, 
squirrels,  racoons,  bears,  wild-cats,  &c.,  many  of  which  furnish 
'excellent  furs  and  peltry.  8.  The  great  variety  of  birds  for  game, 
such  as  wild  -turkies,  pheasants,  partridges,  pigeons,  plovers,  heath- 
fowl,  and  indian  hen,  together  with  a  vast  variety  of  water-fowl 
on  the  rivers,  and  lakes,  such  as  wild  geese  and  ducks,  of  many 
different  kinds,  not  known  in  Europe,  9.  The  uncommon  abun- 
dance of  very  fine  fish,  with  which  the  lakes  and  rivers,  abound  ; 
among  which  are  to  be  found  excellent  salmon  of  two  different 
kinds,  salmon-trout,  of  a  very  large  size,  white  and  yellow  perch, 
sheep-heads,  pike,  succors,  and  eels  of  a  very  large  size,  with  a 
variety  of  other  fish  in  their  different  seasons.  10.  The  excellence 
of  the  climate  in  that  region  where  these  lands  are  situated,  which 
h  less  severe  in  winter,  and  not  so  warm  in  summer,  as  the  same 
latitudes  nearer  the  sea. — The  total  exemption  from  all  periodical 
disorders,  particularly  the  fever  and  ague,  which  does  not  prevail 
in  the  Genesee  country,  on  account  of  the  rising  grounds  and  fine 
situations.  11.  The  vast  advantages  derived  from  the  navigable 
lakes,  river,  and  creeks,  which  intersect  and  run  through  every 
part  of  this  tract  of  country,  affording  a  water  communication  from, 
the  northern  parts  of  the  grant  by  the  Genesee  river  oneway,  orby 
the  Seneca  river  another  way  into  the  great  lake  Ontario,  and  from 
thence  by  Cataraquijtn  Quebec,  orby  the  said  Seneca  river,the  Oneida 
lake,  and  Wood  creek,  to  Schenectady  on  the  Mohawk  river,  with 
only  a  short  land  carriage,  and  from  thence  to  Albany,with  a  portage 
of  16  miles  ;  affording  also  a  water  communication  from  almost  every 
township  of  the  southern  part  of  the  grant,.by  means  of  the  differ- 
ent branches  of  the  Tioga  river,  which  joming  the  Susquehanna 
affords  an  outlet  to  produce,  through  an  immense  extent  of  country 
on  every  handj  to  Northumberland,  and  all  the  towns  upon  the 


WSSTEFJM  KKW-YOIIK.  1113 

great  braiKih  of  this  riverj  down  to  Maryland  and  Tirginia  :  and 
("with  a  portage  of  12  miles)  even  to  Philadelphia  with  small  boats  | 
and  when  the  im.prOTements  are  made  in  the  Susquehannah,  and 
the  projected  canal  cut  between  the  Schuylkill  and  that  river ; 
there  will  be  an  uninterrupted  good  water  communication  for  boats 
of  10  or  15  tons  from  the  interior  parts  of  the  Genesee  country, 
all  the  way  to  Philadelphia.  12.  But  aboTe  all,  the  uncommon 
benefits  these  lands  derive  from  the  vicinity  to  the  thick  settled 
countries  in  New-York  and  New-England  governments  on  the  one 
hand,  and  Northumberland  county  in  Pennsylvania  on  the  other, 
from  all  which  quarters,  from  the  great  advantages  that  are  held 
out,  there  must  be  an  overflow  of  emigrants  every  year,  until  these 
lands  are  fully  settled  :  which  expectation  is  already  completely 
evinced,  from  the  rapid  population  that  has  taken  place  on  the 
east  bomidaries  of  the  grant  upon  the  Tioga  river,  and  between 
the  Seneca  and  Cayuga  lakes,  up  to  lake  Ontario,*  where,  in  the 
course  of  three  or  four  years,  above  800  families  have  fixed  them- 
selves in  this  fertile  country,  most  of  whom  having  emigrated  from 
the  eastern  states  of  New-England,  New-York  and  Pennsylvania, 
have  all  the  advantages  which  are  to  be  derived  from  a  perfect 
knowledge  of  the  country,  and  from  that  kind  of  education  and  local 
resource,  which  soon  renders  the  situation  of  a  new  settler  comfort- 
able and  happy,  enabling  them,  at  the  same  time,  to  assist  new 
comers,  who  may  be  less  acquainted  with  the  nature  of  the  country. 

As  a  proof  the  estimation  in  which  the  Genesee  lands  are  held 
by  the  neighbouring  inhabitants,  it  is  only  necessary  to  state  the 
following  facts,  relative  to  the  population  soil,  and  produce  Bl^, 
which  have  been  extracted  from  letters  and  public  documents, 
upon  which  the  utmost  reliance  can  be  placed.  The  information 
is  in  these  words  :  "  There  are  already  settled  in  this  particular 
tract,  upwards  of  lOOOf  people,  in  different  townships,  although 

*  These  lands  are  part  of  the  tract  of  country  which  was  grsinted  to  the 
officers  and  soldiers  of  the  continental  army,  for  military  services.  The  soil 
is  in  general  the  same  as  the  Genesee  pre-emption:  but  they  do  not  poseesa  < 
equal  advantages  in  being  exempted  from  the  land-taic  for  15  years.  These 
lands  are  not  only  subject  to  the  us'jal  taxes  of  the  state,  as  soon  as  located,^ 
but  settlements  must  be  made^  and  houses  built,  within  a  limited  time^  other- 
wise they  revert  back  to  the  state, 

I  In  17M  tbQ  inhabitwita  vtqtq  «ix  times  that  number,— IIdjt. 


1114 


PAPERS  RELATING  1*0 


two  years  ago  there  was  not  a  single  person  on  the  whole  of  the 
Genesee  lands.  This  winter  there  is  to  be  a  great  addition  to  the 
number.  The  return  made  by  the  deputy-marshal  of  New-York 
shews  not  only  the  precise  number  of  inhabitants  that  have  made 
settlements  in  these  lands,  but  also  the  different  townships  upon 
which  these  settlers  have  estabhshed  their  farms,  and  fixed  theii 
residence.    Of  this  return  the  following  is  an  exact  copy. 


A  rtturn  of  the  settlers  on  the  pre-emptim  lands  in  the  con-nty  of 
Ontario^  December  1790. 


• 

v> 
a 

.-  (■ 
Males  jlVIales 

■  a? 
9) 

s 

No.  of 

Total 

RANGES. 

'Si 

above  lunder 

a 

« 

o 

OA 

9) 

Town- 

number 

S 

«i 

16. 

1,6. 

s 

« 

be 

>  ' 

ships. 

f*i 

a 

CO 

In  the  1st  range , 

10 

22 

11 

26 

0 

0 

0 

No.  2 

59 

ditto 

12 

24 

16 

25 

0 

0 

0 

7 

65 

ditto 

3 

12 

4 

9 

0 

u 

0 

8 

25 

dittp 

10 

30 

13 

7 

0 

0 

0 

9 

60 

ditto 

8 

33 

5 

17 

0 

0 

0 

10 

55 

ditto 

2 

4 

3 

4 

0 

0 

0 

11 

11 

..n  the  2d  range, 

6 

8 

7 

12 

0 

0 

7 

No.  1 

34 

ditto 

5 

9 

7 

9 

0 

0 

0 

2 

25 

ditto 

1 

1 

2 

6 

0 

0 

0 

5 

9 

ditto 

7 

20 

9 

9 

0 

0 

0 

8 

38 

ditto 

6 

12 

1 

0 

0 

0 

0 

10 

13 

ditto 

2 

4 

0 

0 

0 

1 

0 

11 

5 

In  the  3d  range, 

18 

70 

8 

20 

0 

0 

1 

No.  10 

99 

ditto 

12 

32 

10 

13 

0 

0 

0 

11 

•  55 

ditto 

4 

10 

1 

3 

0 

0 

0 

12 

14 

In  the  4th  range, 

4 

18 

2 

t> 

Q 

0 

0 

No.  8 

20 

ditto 

3 

7 

4 

2 

0 

0 

0 

9 

13 

ditto 

10 

38 

6 

20 

0 

1 

0 

10 

66 

ditto 

4 

■  13 

2 

4 

0 

0 

1 

11 

20 

In  the  5th  range, 

1 

2 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

No.  9 

2 

ditto 

7 

18 

4 

4 

0 

0 

« 

10 

26 

flitto 

2 

5 

3 

2 

0 

0 

0 

11 

10 

ditto 

8 

15 

4 

9 

0 

0 

0 

12 

-  28 

ditto 

4 

10 

6 

4 

0 

0 

0 

13 

20 

5th  and  6th, 

10 

17 

12 

21 

0 

0 

0 

3  and  4 

In  the  6th  range. 

4 

7 

5 

11 

0 

0 

0 

No.  10 

23 

ditto 

9 

26 

12 

18 

0 

0 

0 

11 

56 

ditto 

1 

3 

4 

0 

0 

0 

12 

8 

In  the  7th  range, 

1 

1 

3 

1 

0 

0 

0 

No.  6 

6 

ditto 

8 

16 

4 

11 

1 

0 

2 

9 

34 

ditto 

8 

18 

15 

26 

0 

0 

0 

10 

59 

West  of  Genesee 

• 

7 

10 

9 

15 

0 

0 

0 

0 

34 

Indian  lands  oppo- 

site to  No.  5, 8  &  9 

in  the  7th  range, 

4 

8 

6 

0 

0 

0 

0 

17 

201 

523 

192 

318 

1 

. 

2 

11 

1047* 

♦By  advices  received  in  March  1793  the  inhabitants  had  increased  to  7000j 
and  settlers  were  daily  going  on  the  lands.  In  two  years  hence,  the  Genessee 
lands  may  be  estimated  to  contain  15,000.— Enrr. 


SuwMiTl  b 

vin.i,,,- 

M'tf.  E.tth  square  is  mlled  a  rownslap 
'fCMilfs  s,f„iir  Srcvntnins  23.  04C 

iu  R^inr.mits  r/i,-  IhH  iisliirs  scM  ,f 
.■ttlfmfiits  iilmnlv  iiinile-  rr  ililfhriil 
Townships 

Towttshifis  sohi  X'  in  tin-  pn't/n'ss 
'  ht-mti  s,-tf/i-t/. 
[n  17/1.1  X-  17;ii'  riif  .<:enlfrs 
ililf'nriit  Tt'nu.vhifis  tinwimted 

XI  TJn-  yimrs     thr  ^ltjjhmi}-J^ftmtains 

n  iifvn  the  ihrrr  finsl  mnges , 
thf  Uiub  aiiHit  hTl^dah  with 
nch  bottems  Scimy  he  aiUiirated  te 


.1  MAP  o/t//,-  GEXESEE  LlANDS  ///        il^nxi^^-  of  OXTARTO   ,///,/  's-Xa^^  <f  XFAV  YOIIK 


WESTERN  KEW-YOKK. 


1135 


Besides  these  settlers  who  actuall)^  occupy  the  Genesee  tractj 
there  is  an  estabhshment  of  quakers,  called  the  Friends  settlement, 
situated  on  the  eastern  ridge  of  the  grant,  and  at  the  outlet  of  the 
Crooked  lake,  consisting  of  260  persons,  who  are  very  industrious, 
and  have  already  made  considerable  improvements,  having  com- 
pleted an  excellent  grist  and  saw  mill  some  time  since.  It  is 
expected  there  will  be  double  that  number  before  a  twelvemonth. 
To  the  northward  of  this  settlement,  12  or  15  miles  distant,  at 
the  north-west  corner  of  the  Seneca  lake  and  about  three  miles 
from  the  boundary  of  the  grant,  is  the  town  of  Geneva,  in  the 
neighborhood  of  which  there  are  many  settlers,  and  so  on  northerly 
to  lake  Ontario,  and  in  different  directions  for  about  30  miles. 
About  20  miles  south  from  the  Friends  settlement,  near  the  head 
of  the  Seneca  lake,  is  the  village  of  Culvers,  and  four  miles 
further  on  is  Catharines  town.  In  the  neighborhood  of  these 
villages  there  is  a  district  of  country  bounded  by  the  Pennsylvania 
line  on  the  south  and  the  heads  of  the  Seneca  and  Cayuga  lakes 
on  the  north,  and  running  east  from  the  Genesee  southern  boundary 
to  Owega  creek,  in  which  there  are  near  600  families  set^ed. 
Between  the  Seneca  and  Cayuga  lakes,  and  particularly  to  the 
eastward  of  the  latter,  the  country  is  settling  very  fast,  and  so  on 
along  the  east  branch  of  the  Susquehanna,  to  its  source  at  lake 
Ocsega.  It  would  be  difficult  to  ascertain  the  present  population- 
of  the  lands  adjoining  the  Genesee  grant,  but  it  may  be  safely 
concluded  from  the  progression  of  settlements  for  two  or  three 
years  past,  that  in  the  course  of  a  very  few  years,  the  whole 
country  to  the  eastward  of  the  pre-emption  line  will  be  well  and 
thickly  inhabited.*    The  New  England  settlers  who  have  already 

*  An  idea  of  the  rapid  population  may  be  formed,  from  a  detail  of  the  towns 

and  villages  which  iiave  been  built  within  the  last  three  yearSj  and  which  are 
now  in  a  state  of  progressive  increase,  namely 

1.  The  town  of  Cannandarqua,  at  the  north  end  of  the  lake  of  that  name, 
lying  within  the  Genesee  grant,  and  .intended  to  be  the  head  town  of 

the  country  of  Ontario,   i)9 

2.  The  Friends  settlement  at  the  outlet  of  the  Crooked  lake/   260 

3.  The  town  of  Genera,  at  the  north-west  corner  of  the  Seneca  lake 
(supposed  to  be)   ^  >   1(30 

4.  The  village  of  Cul'P'ers.,  near  the  head  of  Sennca  lake  (supposed  to  be,  70 

5.  Tiie  village  of  Cathrines  town,  situated  on  the  head  of  the  Senecft 
lak«,  4  miles  from  Culvers,   "  X 


1116 


PAPERS  REIaATIITO  TO 


fixed  themselves  on  the  Genesee  tract,  have  made  such  favoraDie 
reports  of  the  climate  and  soil,  that  there  are  vast  numbers  of 
tlieir  countrymen  preparing  to  remove  thither.  Some  of  these, 
who  at  first  bought  townships  of  the  original  grantees,  are  selling 
farms  to  new  settlers  from  two  to  three  dollars  an  acre,  according 
to  quality,  situation,  and  other  Ibcal  advantages. 

It  is  in  contemplation  at  present  to  make  a  water  communica- 
tion between  the  Susquehannah  and  the  Schuylkill,*  which  if 
elTected,  will  lay  open  the  market  of  Philadelphia  for  the  recep- 
tion of  the  produce  of  all  the  Genesee  country.  And  as  the  soil 
and  clim<ite  are  supposed  to  be  the  best  in  the  world  for  raising  large 
and  productive  crops  of  hemp,  flax,  indian  corn,  wheat,  rye,t)arley, 
oats,  buik-wheat,  peas,  beans,  and  every  other  species  of  grain 
produced  in  North  America,  much  benefit  will  be  derived  to  the 
settlers,  by  every  improvement  which  can  be  made  in  facilitating 
carriage  by  inland  navigation. 

At  present  wheat  can  be  sent  from  the  Genesee  Settlements  to 
Philadelphia,  at  one  shilling  sterling  per  bushel ;  but  if  the  water 
communication  be  opened  between  the  two  rivers,  the  cost  will  not 
exceed  four  pence. 

Dry  goods  can  now  be  sent  to  these  new  settlements  at  about 
eight  shillings  sterling  per  hundred  weight,  which  will  probably  be 
teduced  to  three  shillings  when  the  navigation  is  completed. 

No  country  in  the  world  is  better  adapted  for  raising  cattle 
than  the  Genesee  grant.  One  of  the  first  settlers  in  that  country 
asserts  that  he  can  every  season  cut  wild  grass,  on  his  own  farm 
m  the  Genesee  flats  sufficient  to  maintain  2000  head  of  cattle 
through  the  winter  ;  and  that  such  hay,  witli  rushes  and  vegetables 

6.  Newtown,  a  beautiful  village  on  the  eastern  forks  of  the  Tioga  riyer 
(supposed)   lOU 

7.  Cheemiiig  town,  three  miles  below  New-town,   50 

709 

The  Bctllements  on  the  lands  surrounding  these  towns,  in  a  square  of 
sboui  80  miles,. . =    ,  -   6931 

Total    6640 


♦1793.  This  cOitmmanication  Is  »ci«ally  begwi^  a,nc\  jprcmisee  the  greate* 
a^vantag;e  to  the  Genesee  laads^   IIdit  . 


WESTERN  »^:W-YOKK.  111^ 

which  are  found  above  the  snow,  generally  keep  the  cattle  fal 
%vithout  any  expence.  Hogs  can  also  be  reared  in  the  woods  at» 
little  or  no  expence  to  the  farmer. 

"As  the  distance  from  Philadelphia  (between  which  and  tlie- 
Genesee  lands  a  road  was  to  be  completed  in  1791)  is  somewhat 
less  by  land  than  two  hundred  miles,  there  can  be  no  difficulty  in 
driving  fat  cattle  and  hogs  to  that  market  for  sale:  as  they  can 
transport  themselves  at  a  very  small  expence,  and  as  the  demand 
for  provision  increases  every  year,  and  a  liberal  price  is  given  for 
beef  and  pork,  there  can  be  no  doubt  but  the  rearing  of  cattle 
and  hogs,  as  well  as  horses,  for  sale,  in  the  low  countries,  will 
soon  become  a  great  object  of  profit  to  the  settlers,  as  the  ex! elu- 
sive ranges  of  meadow  ground  on  the  flats  and  the  blue  grass, 
white  clover  and  pea  vine  in  the  woods,  must  enable  the  farmer  to 
feed  almost  any  number  he  can  raise,  or  find  capital  to  purchase  * 
In  many  parts  of  the  tract  there  is  little  or  no  undervyood,  and 
excellent  pasture  in  tlie  forests  between  the  trees,  in  consequence  of 
their  being  in  general  of  an  enormous  size,  and  of  the  considerable 
distance  between  them  ;  thereby  affording  even  a  wide  range  for 
cattle  in  the  upland  country,  as  well  as  in  the  fiats  and  meadows* 
which  have  already  been  represented  to  be  luxuriant  beyond 
description,  in  a  species  of  coarse  grass,  very  fit  for  hay.  It  is 
said  that  there  are  many  wild  horses  upon  the  tract,  which  is  an 
additional  proof  of  there  being  winter  food  in  the  flat  lands  and  in 
the  forests." 

The  farming  lands  exhibit  a  variety  of  different  soils  adapted  to 
every  species  of  cultivation.  The  bottoms  between  the  rising 
grounds  being  universally  rich,  and  the  soil  deep  in  every  part  of 
the  tract,  may  be  turned  successfully  to  the  raising  of  hemp  and 
flax  of  the  very  first  quality,  also  Indian  corn.  On  the  rising 
grounds,  wheat,  rye,  oats,  barky,  buckwheat,  potatoes  (which  are 
said  to  be  the  best  in  the  world,)  turnips,  and  all  kinds  of  veger- 
tables,  may  be  cultivated  in  the  greatest  perfection;  and  considerable 
advantages  may  be  derived  from  making  ashes  from  the  timber 
consumed  in  clearing  the  grounds. 

•1793.  Sheep  are  also  found  to  prosper  on  these  lands,  and  the  gentlemen 
who  reside  there  have  a  raat  number,  beaidea  bogu,  covrs  anil  pouJtxyc  &c. 

Edit. 


It  18 


PAPERS  RELATING  TO 


Indeed  the  woods  of  America  furnish  much  resource  independer.t 
of  agriculture  not  only  in  the  article  of  pot  and  pearl  ashes,  and 
in  the  sugar  extracted  from  the  sap  of  the  maple  •  but  also  in  furs 
and  skins,  from  the  woods  surrounding  the  farm  and  such  articles 
always  produce  ready  money  to  the  new  settler,  to  assist  him  in 
his  agricultural  pursuits.  On  the  Genesee  lands,  iron  ore  has  also 
been  discovered,  which  at  a  future  period,  may  be  productive  of 
great  advantage  to  the  proprietors.  Already  very  good  ore  has 
been  found  on  one  of  the  townships,  and  information  has  been 
actually  received,  that  iron  founderies  are  soon  to  be  erected  on 
another  township,  situated  upon  the  property  of  a  Mr.  Facit. 

Every  part  of  the  tract  abounds  with  springs  of  excellent  water. 
It  has  also  been  asserted,  that  there  are  salt  springs  on  the 
grant  and  that  some  of  them  are  now  worked  by  the  new  settlers, 
so  as  to  supply  the  whole  with  good  salt  at  a  moderate  price. 

"  There  is  likewise  a  natural  sulphur  spring  in  the  tract. 

"  The  present  setlers  have  already  got  a  fine  stock  of  cattle  and 
hogs,  and  find  that  they  thrive  and  increase  very  fast :  but  as  yet, 
there  are  few  sheep,  although,  it  is  supposed,  they  would  succeed 
well  on  the  hills,  after  the  country  is  more  fully  peopled.  Several 
genteel  families  are  preparing  to  settle  on  the  tract  this  season, 
which  will  greatly  facilitate  the  population  of  these  lands. 

The  crops  of  wheat,  indian  corn,  and  other  small  grains  were 
very  abundant  last  year;  so  that  the  present  settlers  are  in  a 
situation  to  assist  and  to  supply  the  wants  of  new  comers. 

"  The  market  for  grain  and  provision  raised  in  the  Genesee 
country  will  be  on  the  spot  for  gome  time  to  come,  and  the 
constant  influx  of  setlers,  who  may  be  expected,  until  the  whole  of 
these  lands  arc  occupied,  will,  at  least  for  a  time,  consume  all  the 
surplus  produce  ;  afterwards  the  city  of  Philadelphia  will  probably 
be  the  best  market  ;  and  while  the  country  is  in  the  progress  of 
being  settled,  the  hemp  and  flax  raised  by  the  Genesee  farmers, 
and  also  the  ashes  and  sugar  made  upon  these  lands,  and  the  skins 
and  furs  procured  by  hunting,  must  ultimately  go  to  Philadelphia 
and  New-York  ;  but  this  will  be  the  business  of  the  raerchantj 
who  will  receive  all  these  articles  from  the  farmer  in  return  for 
dry  goods,  implements  of  husbandry,  salt  and  rum,  and  such  othei 
articles  as  the  settlers  may  want." 


WESTERN  NEW-YORK. 


I'll  9 


It  is  the' constant  practice  in  America,  for  small  traders  to 
establish  what  is  called  flying  stores,  for  the  sale  of  goods  wherever 
new  settlements  are  made.  And  already  there  are  actually  such 
merchants  established  in  the  Genesee  country,  at  the  county  town  - 
of  Canandraqua,  at  the  north  end  of  the  lake  of  that  name,  where 
all  kind  of  produce  is  bought  and  sold  by  the  merchants  already 
settled  there. 

Wheat  is  at  present,  1791,  one  dollar  per  bushel  (4s  6d 
sterling ;)  indian  corn,  2s  6d,  ditto  ;  salt,  from  the  Onondago 
works,  60  miles  east  of  the  grant,  is  half  a  dollar  a  bushel,  in 
time  it  will  be  cheap^er. 

At  a  future  period,  when  population  shall  have  rendered  various 
markets  necessary,  the  heavy  articles  raised  on  the  northern  part  of 
the  grant,  will  probably  be  transported  to  Quebeck,  by  the  way  of 
.  lake  Ontario',  Catoroqui,  and  Montreal ;  and  such  articles  as  will 
bear  land-carriage,  by  the  way  of  the  Mohawk  river  and  New- York. 
As  the  crops  are  extremely  uncertain  in  Canada,  it  is  by  no  means 
improbable  that  this  country  must  often  be  resorted  to  in  order  to 
supply' the  Canadians  with  bread. 

It  has  been  already  mentioned,  that  the  climate  of  this  country  is- 
reckoned  more  mild  in  Winter,  and  less  sultry  in  the  summer, 
than  the  same  latitudes  nearer  the  atlantic  ocean ;  and  as 
agriculture  advances,  and  the  country  becomes  more  open,  the 
climate  will  improve.  At  present  it  is  extremely  healthy,  and 
none  of  those  periodical  disorders  are  known  among  the  settlers 
which  prevail  in  those  parts  of  America  which  are  nearer  the  sea 
such  as  intermitting  fevers,  agues  and  bilious  complaints. 

The  severe  weather  generally  sets  in  about  the  beginning  of 
December,  with  sharp  cold,  black  frost,  and  falls  of  snow.  About 
Christmas  the  grounds  are  covered  with  snow,  which  continues 
about  two  months,  or  till  the  first  week  in  March,  during  which 
interval  there  is  a  clear  serene  sky  with  fine  weather.  It  is  then 
that  the  farmer  transports  his  corn  and  other  produce  to  the  market, 
or  to  the  granaries  land  stores  at  the  landing-places,  to  be  in  readi- 
ness when  the  weather  opens  for  water  communication.  This 
transportation  is  managed  with  great  ease  by  means  of  slays  over 
the  snow,  where  one  horse  will  perform  more  than  four  times  the 


1120 


PAPKBS   RELATING  TO 


number  m  those  latitudes  m  North- Am  ericas  where  snows  do  )io< 
lie  in  the  winter. 

This  period,  when  the  snows  are  upon  the  ground,  is  also  the 
season  of  festivity  with  the  American  farmers,  as  it  affords  an  easy 
and  expeditious,  as  well  as  a  cheap  mode  of  travelling,  and  of 
paying  visits  to  one  another,  and  in  holding  a  friendly  intercourse 
with  their  relations  at  a  distance,  in  which  they  appear  to  have 
more  real  enjoyment  than  the  fsame  class  of  people  in  any  other 
country  in  the  world. 

These  snows  are  therefore  reckoned  extremely  beneficial  ;  for 
while  they  meliorate  the  ground,  and  assist  the  farmer  in  removing 
his  heavy  timber  and  produce,  at  an  easy  expence,they  contribute 
much  to  his  comfort  and  happiness,  in  the  intercourse  with  his 
friends  and  neighbors,  in  the  facility  of  travelling  from  one  place 
to  another,  and  in  the  fine,  serene,  and  clear  atmosphere  which  is 
experienced  during  the  whole  of  the  winter, 

The-  snows  are  generally  off  the  ground  about  the  middle  of 
March,  when  the  spring  weather  commences,  by  mild  showers  of 
rain,  which  continue  occasionally  during  the  whole  of  the  months 
of  April  and  May,  gradually  becoming  warmer  and  warmer ; 
which  occasions  a  quick  vegetation.  During  this  season  the  ' 
country  is  deUghtfully  beautiful,  with  the  whole  fruit  trees  in 
bloom,  as  well  as  every  shrub  or  vine  which  bears  any  wild  fruit 
in  the  woods. 

In  June  the  weather  begins  to  grow  warm.  In  Jul)  and  August 
it  is  occasionally  sultry,  with  frequent  thunder  showers,  which  are 
succeeded  immediately  by  fine  serene  weather,  without  the  inter- 
vention of  any  settled  rains.  During  this  season  the  flies  are  very 
troublesome  ;  but  this  "will  be  less  and  less  the  case  as  the  country 
is  cleared. 

The  months  of  September,  October,  and  November,  are  delight- 
fully pleasant.  The  mornings  and  eV'enings  are  sometimes  foggy  ; 
but  the  middle  part  of  the  day  is  clear  and  serene,  without  any 
rains  to  distress  the  farmer  in  saving  his  different  crops,  or  to 
prevent  him  from  reaping  the  full  extent  of  the  fruits  of  his 
industry. 

The  great  variety  of  fruits  and  game  also,  at  this  season  of  the 
year,  adds  not  a  little  to  the  pleasure  and  comfort  of  the  settlers 


1121 


Bat  still  these  comforts  arc  not  to  be  acquired  without  indujjtry  and 
labour. 

The  Genesee  country,  making  a  part  of  the  new  county  of 
Ontario,  in  the  state  of  New- York,  is  consequently  under  the 
goTernmei^  of  the  congress  of  the  United  States,  which  gorem- 
ment  is  perfectly  free.  Every  inhabitant  is  eligible  to  be  chosen  a 
member  of  the  legislative  body,  or  to  be  appointed  a  public 
magistrate.  Religious  opinions  exclude  no  man  from  any  public 
situation  in  the  government,  and  every  sectary  or  society  are  at 
perfect  liberty  to  exercise  their  own  mode  of  worship,  under  the 
protection  of  the  same  laws  which  give  the  most  perfect  security 
to  their  property. 

The  native  Indians* have  wholly  retired  from  the  Genesee 
country.*  In  this  particular  quarter  of  America,  these  tribes  are 
now  perfectly  tranquilized,  and  disposed  to  cultivate  the  arts  of 
peace  and  civilization.  After  ceding  any  tract  of  country,  for  a 
valuable  consideration  paid,  and  after  a  treaty  signed  for  that 
purpose,  as  in  the  present  case,  no  instance  occurs  of  these  Indians 
ever  settling  upon  the  same  lands.  They  are  remarkable  for 
keeping  faith  in  this  respect.  Indeed  they  always  retire  from  the 
settled  countries,  on  account  of  the  scarcity  of  game,  upon  which 
they  principally  depend  for  subsistence. 

But  above  all  the  extended  society  of  white  inhabitants, 
amounting  to  upwards  of  6000  persons,!  already  established  in 
this  new  country,  half  of  whom  may  be  presumed  able  to  bear 
arms,  gives  the  mos\  perfect  security  to  the  settlers,  and  the  more 
especially  as  their  numbers  will  daily  increase. 

With  this  increase  will  also  be  introduced,  in  a  greater  degree 
every  year,  public  schools  and  other  seminaries  of  learning  for  the 
education  of  youth  of  both  sexes,  as  well  as  places  of  public 
worship.  Some  churches  aad  chapels  are  already  built  in  this 
new  country  ;  and  the  latest  advices  state  that  the  rev.  Mr..  Ross 
was  to  establish  an  academy  for  the  education  of  youth,  in  the 

*  The  Genesee  lands  are  nearly  800  miles  from  the  Kentucky  lands,  and  are 
by  that  raean6  distantly  seated  from  the  present  war  with  the  Indiana  (179^^). — 
Edit.  . 

+  This  number  is  almost  donbled,  and  last  year  upwards  of  500  Germans  weu^ 
from  Hamburgh,  &c.,  for  the  p«rp'>se  of  improvuig  the  land5,  and  were  to  be 
emhoilied  aa  militia. — Edit. 

VOL,  TI.  71 


1122 


PAPERS  RELATING  TO 


county  town  of  Cannandarqua,  in  the  Genesee  tract,  in  the  cours« 
of  the  spring  or  summer  1791. 

To  these  improvements  in  civil  society  are  added,  courts  of 
justice,  and  pubUc  magistrates ;  and  judges  for  the  new  county 
of  Ontario ;  where  court-houses,  and  other  public  buildings,  are 
cither  erected  or  in  progress,  so  as  to  extend  to  the  inhabitants 
the  same  civil  and  political  privileges,  in  well-executed  laws,  and 
in  sending  representatives  to  congress  and  to  the  assembly,  which 
are  enjoyed  by  other  citizens  of  America. 


In  addition  to  what  has  been  already  said  concerning  the  maple- 
gugar,  it  may  here  be  remarked  that  no  cultivation  is  necessary  ; 
that  no  contingency,  such  as  hurricanes  or  bad  seasons,  can  disturb 
the  process ;  that  neither  the  heavy  expense  of  mills,  engines, 
machinery,  or  a  system  of  planting,  which  occupies  negroes  for 
the  whole  of  the  season,  is  necessary  at  all  to  make  the  maple- 
sugar: — the  process  occupies  six  weeks,  from  the  middle  of  February 
to  the  end  of  March  ^  and  the  whole  of  the  buildings,  and  other 
articles  necessary  for  carrying  it  on,  are  to  be  obtained  at  so  trifling 
an  expence,  as  to  be  within  the  reach  of  any  person  of  common 
industry,  whose  conduct  in  life  can  entitle  him  to  the  most  moderate 
credit. 

Upon  the  scale  of  four  men.  and  for  the  purpose  of  making  40 
cwt.  of  sugar,  all  the  implements  that  are  necessary,  are  these 
followmg :  ' 

Expence. 

1.  Sixteen  kettles  of  15  gallons  each,  to  boil  the  sap, 

with  pot  racks  for  each  kettle,  ,  .    £16-  0-0 

2.  Two  iron  ladles,  with  bowls  of  a  gallon,  to  shift 

the  sap  from  one  kettle  to  another,   1-  5-0 

3.  Four  screw  augers,  J  ^o  |  inch,  for  boring  the  trees,       0-  6-0 

4.  Ten  buckets  with  covers,  of  three  gallons  each  for 

collecting  the  sap,  and  yokes  for  carrying  two 

between  the  shoulders,   2-10-0 

6.  Sixteen  hundred  wooden  troughs,  of  three  gallons 
each,  to  receive  the  sap  from  the  trees,  three  pence 
each,,.,  ,  ,  20-  0-0 


WESTERN  HEW- YORK. 


1123 


N.  B.  One  man,  acquainted  with  the  business  may 
cut  down  wood  and  make  20  troughs  in  a  day  (or 
eight  days  work  of  ten  men.) 

6.  Six  wooden  troughs,  dug  out  from  large  timber,  like 

a  canoe,  for  holding  the  sap,   4-10-0 

In  a  new  country,  where  cisterns  cannot  be  had,  such 
large  troughs,  made  of  well  seasoned  timber,  (of 
which  there  is  vast  abundance,  of  an  uncommon 
*  size,  wherever  the  maple  tree  grows)  answer  the 
purpose  very  welL  Upon  the  top  of  this  cistern 
there  should  be  a  linen  strainer  fixed,  through 
which  the  sap  brought  in  the  buckets  should 
pass. 

7.  A  shed  and  walls  for  the  fire  places,  to  be  erected 

of  stone  or  clay  (of  both  which  there  are  plenty 
in  the  country)  of  sufficient  length  for  the  16 
boilers ;  which  shed  should  be  covered  so  as  to  keep 


out  thcAveather,   10-10-0 

8.  Sugar  moulds  may  be  made  of  seasoned  boards, 

until  earthen  ones  can  be  procured,   1-10-0 

9.  Pickers  (so  called  by  the  sugar-bakers,)  to  run  up 

the  moulds,  may  be  also  made  of  hard-wood 

found  in  the  country,   0-  9-0 

10.  Spouts  for  the  trees,  3,200  in  all,   6-10-0 

\  11.  Wooden  gutters  and  narrow  troughs  for  facilitating 

labour,   1-10-0 

Total  cost,.,.   X65-  0-0 


These  are  the  whole  implements  that  are  required  for  a  sugar 
work  in  America,  all  which,  it  is  to  be  observed,  excepting  the  16 
kettles,  the  two  iron  ladles,  and  the  four  augers,  are  prepared  by 
the  workmen  themselves,  from  the  resources  they  find  in  the 
country.  If,  however,  a  large  work  were  to  be  established,  the 
expence  would  probably  be  less  in  proportion,  than  upon  the 
scale  of  four  men  engaged  in  this  pursuit. 

Season  for  tapping. — By  trials  in  February  each  year,  it  will 
be  discovered  when  the  maple-tree  ought  to  be  bored,  for  the 


]124 


PAPttllS   RELATING  TO 


purpose  of  extracting  the  syrup  or  sap  ;  as  in  that  month,  some- 
times earlier  and  sometimes  later,  it  begins  to  yield  a  sufficient 
quantity  for  commencing  business. 

Tapping  or  boring. — Four  hundred  trees,  each  tree  bored  with 
two  holes  on  the  south  side,  and  also  with  two  holes  on  the  north 
side  of  the  tree  in  the  early  part  of  the  season,  with  screw-augers 
from  half  to  one  inch,  according  to  the  size  of  the  tree.  And 
towards  the  middle  of  the  season  a  like  number  of  trees  to  be 
bored  in  the  same  manner.  This  upon  the  scale  of  four  handa;  • 
eight  hundred  trees  in  all,  to  be  tapped.  ' 

The  sap  of  the  second  tapping  will  be  found  richer  and  more 
productive  than  the  first. 

At  first,  the  auger  should  go  no  deeper  into  the  tree  than  |  of 
an  inch,  and  to  be  deepened  afterwards  to  the  extent  of  two 
inches  and  a  half,  as  the  manner  of  the  sap's  running  may  render 
necessary. — The  hole  to  be  made  in  a  slanting  or  descending 
position,  that  the  sap  may  run  freely  in  frosty  weather. — In  these 
holes  there  should  .be  fixed  spouts  to  project  from  the  txee  12 
inches,  but  not  to  enter  the  orifice  more  than  half  an  inch.  Elder 
wood  spouts  to  be  prepared  in  the  season. 

Preserving  the  sap  or  syrup. — In  the  early  part  of  the 
season,  the  sap  will  keep  during  frost,  but  as  the  spring  advances 
it  will  be  necessary  to  boil  it  the  day  after  it  is  drawn  from  the 
tree  to  prevent  souring  and  fermentation. 

Boiling  the  sap. — A  smart  fire  should  be  kept  up  while  the 
sap  is  boiling,  and  a  table  spoonful  of  slacked  lime  put  into  each 
15  gallon  kettle,  while  the  sap  is  warming,  and  before  it  boils,  to 
raise  the  scum,  and  give  the  sugar  a  grain. 

When  the  scum  rises,  it  should  be  skimmed  off.  When  the 
liquor  is  reduced  one  half,  discharge  it  into  the  one  half  of  the 
kettles,  continuing  the  process  till  the  whole  is  placed  in  one  kettle, 
filling  up  the  empty  ones  as  soon  as  possible  with  fresh  sap. 

When  the  liquor  in  the  last  or  aggregate  kettle  becomes  a  syrup, 
it  should  be  strained  through  a  woolen  cloth,  before  it  becomes  too 
thick. 

When  thus  cleaned,  it  should  stand  in  buckets  or  other  proper 
vessels  12  hours,  that  the  whole  sediment  may  fall  to  the  bottom,* 
and  the  clarifn d  ^ynlp  to  be  poured  off  into  a.  kettle  or  boiler. 


1)26 


The  sedmaent  to  be  boiled  up  again  with  fiesb  sap.  In  graining, 
cleaning,  and  whiteing  fhe  sugai;,  the  method  of  the  sugar-bakers 
to  be  used. 

In  graining  the  sugar,  pour  the  syrup  into  a  boiler  after  havimg 
stood  12  hours,  and  place  it  over  a  smart  fire  of  charcoal,  so  as  to 
prevent  any  flame,  using  butter  or  hog's  lard  to  keep  down  the 
sap  when  it  rises  to  tlie  top.  Thi«  should  be  carefully  attended  to 
when  the  sugar  is  graining. 

The  mature  state  of  the  boiling  is  known  by  taking  a  little  of 
the  syrup  from  the  boiling  stick,  and  trying  if  it  ropes  oi  iraws 
into  a  thread  between  the  finger  and  thumb  ;  then  it  should  be  put 
into  a  tub  or  cooler,  and  stirred  incessantly  until  the  grain  can  be 
felt,  when  it  is  in  a  fit  state  to  be  poured  into  the  moulds. 

Molasses  and  vinegar. — When  the  trees  of  the  second  tapping 
become  poor,  which  may  be  about  the  31st,  of  March,  or  perhaps 
not  till  the  10th  of  April,  the  number  of  fresh  tapped  trees  will 
yield  a  sap,  of  which  may  be  made  good  molasses,  and  excellent 
vinegar. 

Rum  has  al»o  been  made  of  an  exceeding  good  quality  from  the 
rich  sap. 


GENERAL  OBSEKVATIONS. 

In  maple  plantations,  it  may  be  useful  to  cut  down  all  other 
timber  which  grow  intermixed  with  the  sugar  trees,  and  also  those 
of  that  species  which  are  not  thriving. 

It  is  not  yet  ascertained  from  experience,  how  long  a  tree  may 
be  tapped  with  success. — But  there  are  instances  among  old 
settlers  on  the  North  river  of  trees  being  tapped  for  50  years,  and 
still  continue  to  yield  their  sap  in  season,  the  same  as  new  trees  ; 
and  it  is  even  asserted  by  persons  of  some  experience,  that  these 
trees  become  more  valuable,  yielding  a  sap  of  a  richer  quality  the 
more  they  are  tapped. 

How  far  a  careful  cultivation  in  plantations  may  still  increase 
the  quantity  and  enrich  the  juices  drawn  from  this  valuable  tree, 
remains  to  be  ascertained  by  experiment. 

The  presumption,  however,  is  in  favour  of  still  greater  advan- 
tage is  frem  cultivation  and  art. 


I 


\ 


DESCRIPTION 

OF  TH» 

SETTLEMENT 

OF  THB 

OENESEE  COUNTRY, 

m  THE 

STATE  OF  NEW-YORK. 

SERIES  OF  LETTERS 
GENTLEMAN  TO  HIS  FRIEND. 


Printed  by  T.  &  J.  SWORDS,  No.  99  Peeirl-atroei 
1799. 


DESCRIPTION,  Ike. 


LETIERL 

Okajj  Sift, 

I  with  pleasure  comply  with  youv  request ;  and  will  endeavour 
to  furnish  you  with  such  information  relative  to  the  soil,  climate, 
siluatioHj  and  present  istate  of  the  Genesee  Country,  as  rriay  enable. 
you  to  judge  of  the  propriety  of  making  it  the  place  of  your  future 
residence.  From  the  following  plain  statement  of  facts,  which  have 
fallen  within  the  sphere  of  my  oAvn  observation,  you  may  be  able 
to  form  some  idea  of  the  rapid  growth  of  this  part  of  the  United 
States.  Any  apology  for  the  plainness  of  the  style  I  consider 
unnecegsary.  It  is  useful  information  you  are  in  quest  of,  and 
sxich  only  I  shall  attempt  to  impart, 

In  the  year  1790,  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  New- York  formed 
into  a  county,  by  the  name  of  Ontario,  all  that  part  of  the  State 
lying  wcfI  of  a  meridip^n  line  drawn  from  the  eighty-second  mile-' 
stone  on  ;  Pennsylvaiiia  line  to  Lake  Ontario.  Within  this  is 
included  the  tract  known  by  the  name  of  the  Genesee  Country, 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Lake  Ontario,  on  the  west  by  Niae:ara 
River  and  Lake  Erie,  on  the  south,  by  Pennsylvania,  and  on  tb^ 
ei»st  by  the  counties  of  Tioga  and  Onondago. 

The  year  previous  to  the  formation  of  this  county,  Oliver  Phelps 
and  Nathaniel  Gorham,  Esqrs.  of  New  England,  purchased  from 
tJfje  State,  and  from  the  Seneca  Indians,  their  right  to  that  part  of 
the  country  wliich  lies  between  the  meridian  line  above  mentioned 
and  the  Genesee  River;  including,  on  the  northernmost  part  of  the 
country,  a  tract  extending  twelve  miles  west  of  the  river,  as  will 
appear  by  the  plan,  forming  a  tract  of  country  forty-five  miles 
from  east  to  west,  and  eighty-four  from  North  to  South,  and  con- 
taiiung  about  tv?o  miliikxn  twe  hundred  th<}usand  acres  of  land 


1130  PAPEaiS  RELATTNG  TO 

Within  these  limits  are  contained  the  country  now  settling,  which 
is  as  remarkable  for  its  natural  advantages,  as  for  its  fertile  soil 
and  moderate  climate.  The  northern  part  of  the  county  of  Ontario 
is  watered  by  the  Genesee  River,  Rundigut  Creek,  Flint  Creek, 
Mud  Creek,  Salmon  Creek,  and  many  other  inferior  streams,  and 
also  by  a  number  of  lakes,  some  of  them  from  forty  to  fifty  miles 
in  length,  the  outlets  of  which  afford  not  only  a  good  navigation  to 
Albany  and  Lake  Ontario,  but  also  valuable  mill  seats.  The  south 
part  of  the  country  is  watered  by  different  branches  of  the 
Susquehannah,  viz.  the  Conhocton,  Canisteo,  Tuscarora,and  Cawa- 
nisque ;  all  of  which  unite  at  the  Painted  Post,  and  are  navigable 
from  the  middle  of  March  to  about  the  fii-st  of  July,  and  from  the 
middle  of  September  till  late  in  November. 

The  distance  from  Albany,  New- York,  Philadelphia  or  Baltimore, 
does  not  exceed  in  a  direct  course,  one  hundred  and  eighty  miles, 
and,  by  the  roads  now  in  use,  not  much  above  two  hundred  miles  ; 
and  to  the  Federal  City  the  distance  is  about  two  hundred  and 
axty  five  miles:  and  the  improvement  of  the  intermediate  country- 
will  not  only  facilitate  the  travelling,  but  by  opening  new  and 
more  direct  roads,  will  considerably  lessen  the  distance.  At  present 
the  journey  to  any  of  these  cities  is  generally  performed  in  five  or 
six  days. 

The  settlement  of  this  country  was  first  attempted  by  Mr 
Phelps,  in  the  year  1789;  but  this  attempt  was  attended  with 
great  and  almost  insurmountable  difficulties:  there  was  no  access 
to  the  country  but  by  Indian  paths,  and  the  nearest  settlement  was 
above  one  hundred  miles  distant:  the  Alleghany  Mountains,  then 
never  passed,  lay  on  the  south,  and  Lake  Ontario  to  the  north  ;  to 
the  west  was  one  boundless  forest.  It  is  not  to  be  wondered  at, 
that,  under  such  circumstances,  the  country  made  little  progress 
in  population  and  improvement  for  some  years.  By  the  census 
taken  in  1790,  it  appears  that  there  were  only  nine  hundred  and 
sixty  souls,  including  all  travellers  and  surveyors,  with  their 
attendants,  who  happened  at  that  time  to  be  within  the  bounds 
of  the  country.  That  you  may  form  some  idea  of  the  progress 
of  improvements  in  this  country  since  that  period,  I  shall  give  you 
an  account  of  the  journey  of  a  gentleman  into  the  Genesee  Country 
in  February,  1792,  in  his  own  word*. — 


WESTERN  NEW-YORK. 


1131 


"  On  the  15th  February,  1792,  I  left  Albany,  on  my  route  to 
the  Genesee  River ;  but  the  country  was  thought  so  remote,  and 
so  very  httle  known,  that  I  could  not  prevail  on  the  owner  of 
"  the  sled  I  had  engaged  to  go  further  than  Whitesto\tn  a  new 
"  settlement  on  the  head  of  the  Mohawk  River,  one  hundred 
"  miles  west  from  Albany.  The  road,  as  far  as  Whitestown,  had 
"  been  made  passable  for  waggons ;  but  from  that  to  the  Genesee 
"  River,  it  was  little  better  than  an  Indian  path,  just  sufficiently 
"  opened  to  allow  a  sled  to  pass,  and  the  most  impassible  streams 
"  bridged.  At  Whitestown  I  was  obliged  to  change  my  sled  ;  the 
"  Albany  driver  would  proceed  no  farther,  he  found  that  for  the 
"  next  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles,  we  were  not  only  obliged  to 
"  take  provision  for  ourselves  and  our  horses,  but  also  blankets  as 
"  a  substitute  for  beds.  After  leaving  Whitestown  we  found  only 
"  a  few  straggling  huts  scattered  along  the  path  at  the  distance  of 
"  from  ten  to  twenty  miles,  and  they  affording  nothing  but  the 
"  convenience  of  fire  and  a  kind  of  shelter  from  the  snow.  On 
the  evening  of  the  third  day's  journey  from  Whitestown  we 
"  were  very  agreeably  surprized  to  find  ourselves  on  the  east  side 
"  of  the  Seneca  Lake,  which  we  found  perfectly  open  and  free 
"  from  ice  as  in  the  month  of  June:  the  evening  was  pleasant  and 
"  agreeable  ;  and  what  added  to  our  surprise  and  admiration,  was 
"  to  see  a  boat  and  canoe  plying  on  the  lake.  This,  after  having 
"  passed  from  New  York  over  three  hundred  and  sixty  miles  of 
country  completely  frozen,  was  a  sight  pleasing  and  interesting, 
"  We  then  crossed  the  outlet  of  the  lake,  and  arrived  at  the 
"  settlement  of  Geneva,  consisting  of  a  few  families,  who  had 
"  been  drawn  thither  from  the  convenience  of  the  situation  and 
beauty  of  the  adjoining  country.  The  Seneca  Lake,  on  which 
"  Geneva  is  situated,  is  forty-four  miles  long  by  four  to  six  wide ; 
"  and  to  find  it  navigable  at  this  season  was  a  sight  as  pleasing  as 
"  unexpected.  It  appeared  that  the  mhabitants  of  this  deligh^fui 
"  country  would,  by  the  slight  covering  of  snow  then  on  the 
ground,  have  all  the  convenience  of  a  northern  winter,  and,  by 
"  the  waters  being  free  from  ice,  the  advantages  of  inland  naviga- 
"  tion ;  a  combination  of  advantages  perhaps  not  to  be  experienced 
^<  in  any  other  country  in  the  world.    From  Geneva  to  Canadarqua 


1132 


"  the  road  is  only  the  Indian  path,  a  little  improved  the  first  fiv€ 

miles  over  gentle  swellings  of  land,  intersperced  with  bottoms 
"  seemingly  very  rich;  the  remainder  of  the  road  to  Canadarqua, 
"  the  coimty  town,  sixteen  miles,  was,  the  greatest  part  of  the 
"  distance,  through  a  rich  heavy  timbered  land.  On  this  road 
"  there  were  only  two  families  settled.  Canadarqua,  the  county 
"  town,  consisted  of  only  two  small  frame  houses  and  a  few  huts^ 

surrounded  with  thick  woods.  The  few  inhabitants  received  me 
"  with  much  hospitality.    I  found  there  abundance  of  excellent 

venison.  From  Canadarqua  to  the  Genesee  River,  twenty-six 
"  miles,  it  is  almost  totally  uninhabited,  only  four  families  residing 

on  the  road.  The  country  is  beautifully  diversified  with  hill  and 
"  dale,  and,  in  many  places,  we  found  openings  of  two  and  three 
''•hundred  acres,  free  from  all  timber  and  even  bushes,  which,  on 
''  our  examining,  proved  to  be  of  a  rich,  deep  soil.  It  seemed 
''  that,  by  only  inclosing  with  one  of  these  openings  a  propor 
*'  tionable  quantity  of  timbered  land,  an  inclosure  might  be  made 
''  similar  to  the  parks  in  England 

''  At  the  Genesee  River  I  found  a  small  Indian  store  and 
*'  tavern ;  the  river  was  not  then  frozen  over,  but  was  low  enough 
"  to  be  forded.  As  yet  there  are  no  settlements  of  any  conse- 
"  quence  in  the  Genesee  Country.  That  established  by  a  society 
'*  of  Friends,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Seneca  Lake,  is  the  most 
*^  considerable:  it  consists  of  about  forty  families.  But  the  number 
"  of  Indians  in  the  adjoining  country,  when  compared  with  the 

few  inhabitants  who  ventured  to  winter  in  the  country,  is  so 
''  great,  that  I  fouiid  them  under  serious  apprehensions  for  their 
"  safety.    Even  in  this  state  of  nature,  the  county  of  Ontario 

shows  every  sign  of  future  respectability.    No  man  has  put  the 

plough  in  the  ground  without  being  amply  repaid :  and,  through 

the  mildness  of  the  winter,  the  cattle  brought  into  the  country 
''  the  year  before,  are  thriving  well  on  very  slender  provision  for 
"  their  subsistance.  The  clearing  of  land  for  spring  crops  is  going 
''  on  with  spirit.  I  also  found  the  settlers  here  abundantly 
"  supplied  with  venison.'^ 

Such,  it  appears,  wajg  tbe  situation  of  the  county  of  Ontario  m 
the  year  1792.    Its  present  appearaiwej  contrasted  with  what  it 


was  at  tiwt  p«ri(pKl.    T  intenrl  for  th«  subject  of  another  letter 

Dear  Sir 

Yours  Sac. 

LETTER  n 

Dear  Sir^ 

Messrs.  Phelps  and  Gorham  ha\"ing  sold,  to  Robert  Morris, 
E!sq.  of  Philadelphia,  nearly  two  thirds  of  their  Lands,  Mr.  Morris 
resold  them  in  England  ;  and  the  purchaser  of  Mr.  Morris  ha-snng 
arrived  in  America,  began,  early  in  the  summer  of*  1792,  tft  pyt 
in  execution  the  plan  he  had  formed  for  the  improvement  of  the 
country.  This  gentleman  having  landed  in  Baltimore,  was,  at  an 
early  period,  impressed  with  the  idea  that  this  new  country,  situ- 
ated immediately  north  of  the  centre  of  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland  > 
must  reap  great  adv-antages  from  opening  a  communication  across 
the  Alleghany  Mountains ;  and  his  first  attempt  at  improving  the 
Genesee  Countr]^'  was  to  examine,  in  person,  the  possibilitj^  of 
opening  the  communication.  Not  discouraged  by  the  information 
he  had  received  of  the  impracticability  of  the  object,  with  four 
companions,  on  the  third  day  of  June,  1792,  he  left  the  settlement 
at  the  mouth  of  Lycoming  Creek,  on  the  west  branch  of  the 
Susquehannah,  and  entered  the  mlderness,  taking  a  northerly 
course.  After  ten  days  laborious  exertion  they  fell  on-  the 
Cawonisque  Creek,  and,  from  the  course  of  the  waters,  they  soon 
found  they  had  entered  the  county  of  Ontario.  It  appeared  by 
th^  map  of  the  adjacent  country  that  a  direct  road  across  the 
mountains  would  shorten  the  distance  of  the  Genesee  Country  from 
the  settlements  in  Pennsylvania  at  least  one  hundred  miles,  and  the 
advantages  attending  the  opening  of  this  communication  were  so 
obvious,  that,  difficult  as  the  undertaking  was,  he  determined, 
without  delay  to  try  to  effect  it.  By  the  month  of  November,  of 
the  same  year,  thirty  miles  were  made  sufficiently  good  to  admit 
the  passage  of  waggons  ;  and  by  the  following  August  the  road 
was  completed  to  Williarasburgh,  a  distance  of  one  hundred  and 
seventy  miles  from  the  mouth  of  Lycoming  Creek,  where  they  had 
entered  the  wilderness  to  explore  the  route. 


1134 


PAPERS  RELATING  TO 


It  is  only  from  this  period,  which  opened  to  the  Genesee  h 
communication  Avith  the  settlements  in  Pennsylvania,  that  we  can 
trace  the  beginning  of  that  singularly  rapid  progress  in  population 
and  improvements,  which  has  so  eminently  distinguished  that 
country.  The  opening  of  this  road  from  Pennsylvania  over  a 
chain  of  mountains  before  reckoned  impassable,  excited  the  curiosity 
of  the  inhabitants  in  the  adjacent  country,  and  many  were  tempted 
to  explore  the  Genesee  lands,  that,  previous  to  this,  had  scarcely 
ever  given  them  a  thought.  The  idea  of  the  immense  distance 
was  at  once  destroyed.  At  this  early  period,  however,  it  was 
only  men  of  observation  that  were  pleased.  Many  returned 
disgusted  with  the  extreme  inconvenience  of  travelling  through  a 
country  almost  destitute  of  inhabitants,  for  the  distance  of  one 
hundred  and  seventy  miles,  and  particularly  when  they  found  the 
only  settlement  in  that  part  of  the  country  depending  on  the 
Indians  for  subsistence. 

In  the  spring  of  the  year  1793,  the  scarcity  of  provisions  that 
was  felt  so  severely  at  the  end  of  the  preceding  season,  was 
considerably  increased  by  the  number  of  families  that  emigrated 
at  this  time  into  the  county  of  Ontario.  To  keep  the  settlement? 
together,  an  additional  stock  of  provisions,  consisting  of  flour  and 
pork,  was  procured  from  Philadelphia  and  Northumberland,  in 
Pennsylvania.  By  the  assistance  of  this  timely  supply,  several 
settlements  were  begun  in  the  south  part  of  the  county,  the 
principal  of  which  was  on  the  Conhocton  Creek,  on  the  road  from 
Pennsylvania  to  Williamsburgh.  In  this  place,  then  the  centre  of 
a  wilderness  of  nine  hundred  thousand  acres,  the  town  of  B^th 
was  laid  out ;  and  before  the  end  of  the  season  not  less  than 
fifteen  families  were  resident  in  the  "village.  Early  in  the  season,  a 
saw-mill  had  been  finished  ;  and  previous  to  the  setting  in  of  the 
winter,  a  grist-mill  with  a  saw-mill  nearer  the  town,  were  in  great 
forwardness.  In  the  year  1794,  those  who  had  moved  into  the 
country  the  preceding  years,  finding  a  ready  money  market  for  their 
produce,  had  made  great  exertions,  and  a  considerable  surplus  was 
furnished  by  them  to  the  new  comers.  Of  the  new  settlements, 
begun  this  year,  the  principal  were  those  of  Sodus,  Honeoy  Lake, 
Braddock's  Bay,  Canascraga,  Tuscarora,  and  Pleasant  Valley.* 

*  -  itualed  on  the  southern  extremity  of  the  Crooked  Lake  :  the  other  setllcments  are  deeig-na- 
ted  by  the  orisrinAl  names  of  the  parts  of  th«  eouutry  in  whifth  they  \v«rfi  silixated 


WESTERN  NEW- YORK, 


1135 


At  the  same  time  the  population  of  the  older  settlements  was 
increasing  "with  rapidity:  on  the  most  convenient  mill-seats  m*ills 
were  building  and  roads  making  to  unite  the  different  settlements: 
mdeed  the  whole  country  seemed  one  scene  of  exertion. 

Every  situation  which  nature  had  pointed  out  to  possess  superior 
advantages,  was  the  scene  of  action,  under  the  direction  of  some 
enterprising  characters.  This  year  several  settlements  where 
begun  on  the  Indian  line,  and  one  was  commenced  under  the 
direction  of  a  Mr.  Bartles,  from  the  Jerseys,  on  the  outlet  of  Mud 
Lake,  one  of  the  branches  of  the  Conhocton.  Towards  the  end  of 
summer  a  set  of  merchant  mills  were  in  considerable  forwardness, 
and  lots  laid  out  for  a  village,  called  Frederick's  Town,  after  the 
name  of  the  founder,  Frederick  Bartles;  before  winter  the  saw- 
mill had  got  into  complete  operation,*  and  several  excellent 
mechanics  were  settled  in  the  town.  The  number  of  emigrants 
that  had,  by  this  time,  moved  into  the  new  establishments  in  every 
part  of  the  country,  and  the  respectability  of  many  individuals 
now  resident,  induced  the  Legislature  of  the  State  to  agree  to  a 
division  of  the  county  of  Ontario  ;  the  north  part  retained  the 
name  of  Ontario  and  the  part  struck  off  was  called  Steuben,  after 
the  Baron  of  that  name:  the  town  of  Bath,  only  two  years  before 
the  centre  of  a  wilderness,  was  fixed  on  as  the  seat  of  justice. 

Roads  were  cut  this  year  in  many  directions,  to  connept  the 
different  establishments,  and  many  grist  and  saw-mills  were 
building  on  the  streams  adjoining  the  settlements. 

As  early  as  the  year  1796,  the  various  settlements  had  begun 
to  assume  an  appearance  of  respectability  never  before  instanced 
in  so  new  a  country.  On  an  enumeration  being  taken  of  the 
inhabitants  in  the  town  of  Bath,  and  the  district  eight  miles  round 
it,  by  the  assessors,  there  were  found  above  eight  hundred  souls 
also,  within  the  same  distan?e,  two  schools,  one  grist-mill,  and  five 
saw-mills.  Nearly  all  the  settlements  had  increased  in  a  similar 
proportion  ;  the  number  of  emigrants  each  year  was  supposed  to 
be  not  less  than  three  thousand  souls;  these  were  either  enojrafted  on 

*It  is  not  unworthy  of  notice,  that  in  the  month  of  May,  1798,  Mr.  Bartles 
proceetletl  from  his  mills,  in  the  centre  of  Steuben  county,  with  100,000  feet  of 
ooards,  for  Baltimore,  where  he  arrived,  safe  and  met  with  so  good  a  market,, 
tluit  he  engaged  to  deliver  the  same  quantity  tl\e  next  spring-. 


1136 


PAPElia  IIKLATINO  W 


the  old  settlements,  or>  under  seme  enterpi*wing  man,  formed 
distmct  settlements  of  their  own.  « 

Of  those  begun  in  1796,  there  were  two  worthy  of  notice  :  thiit 
of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gray  in  Township  No.  4,  seventh  range,  who 
moved  from  Pennsylvania  with  a  respectable  part  of  his  former 
parishoners,  and  a  Jersey  settlement  on  the  head  of  the  Canascraga 
Creek  ;  both  of  these  exhibit  instances  of  industry  and  enterprize, 
rare  as  uncommon.  The  ensuing  season,  on  the  organization  of 
the  militia  of  the  county  of  Steuben,  this  Jersey  settlement  turned 
out  a  company  of  grenadiers,  all  in  handsome  uniform,  and 
completely  equipped,  composed  solely  of  the  young  men  belonging 
to  it,  and  the  same  season,  a  troop  of  horse  and  a  company  of 
light  infantry  were  formed  at  Bath,  and  attached  to  the  battalion 
of  Steuben  county. 

Much  pains  werfe  taken  to  induce  the  different  settler.<<  to  erect 
mills  at  an  early  period  of  their  settlement,  and  every  encourage- 
ment was  given  to  put  it  in  their  power  to  carry  them  into  effect ; 
iiideed,  in  no  new  country  were  the  settlers  so  well  accommodated 
with  mills.  The  consequence  was  evident,  both  in  the  appearance 
of  their  houses  and  farms:  a  greater  number  of  framed  houses 
and  barns  were  to  be  found  in  these  settlements  than  in  many  that 
were  twenty  years  old.  This  had  not  only  a  good  effect  in 
beautifying  and  enriching  the  country,  but  by  the  erection  of 
comfortable  houses,  much  w^as  done  towards  the  preservation  of 
the  health  of  the  inhabitants. 

This  year  a  printing-offxe  was  established  in  the  town  of  Bath, 
and  a  newspaper  printed,  entitled,  "The  Bath  Gazette.^'  The 
county  of  Ontario  having  several  years  the  start  in  settlement,  and 
the  advantage  of  many  Indian  clearings  of  great  extent,  had 
already  the  comfortable  appearance  of  an  old  settled  country  :  the 
old  Indian  orchards  had  been  dressed  up,  and  the  fmit  secured 
from  depredation.  Fruit  was  in  such  abundance,  that  one  farmer, 
near  Geneva,  made,  this  year,  one  hundred  barrels  of  cyder. 

The  town  of  Canadarqua,  from  consisting  of  a  few  straggling 
huts,  as  described  in  1792,  had  now  assumed  the  appearance  of  a 
•very  handsome  village :  a  court-house  and  goal  were  already 
built  ;  and  an  academy  founded  on  a  subscription  of  thirty  thou- 
sand dollars  was  now  building.    The  whole  adjacent  country  was 


^VT:STERN   NEW-YORK.  1137 

jrapidly  settling  with  a  most  respectable  yeomanry,  but  particularly 
that  part  lying  between  Canadarqua  and  the  Genesee  River.  This 
tract  of  country,  about  six  miles  from  north  to  south,  and  twenty 
seven  from  east  to  west,  for  well  cultivated  farms,  a  thick  popula- 
tion, and  respectable  inhabitants  ,  may  already  vie  with  any  part 
of  ihe  United  States.* 

In  this  year  (1796)  the  tow^n  of  Geneva  received  a  great 
Addition  by  the  laying  out  a  street  on  the  summit  of  a  rising 
ground,  along  the  west  bank  of  the  lake.  At  the  south  termina- 
tion of  the  street  a  handsome  country  house  was  begun,  and 
finished  the  year  following;  and  in  the  corner  of  the  square,  a 
large  and  convenient  house,  for  a  tavern  and  hotel  besides,  many 
other  large  and  well  finished  houses.  About  this  time  a  sloop  of 
forty  tons,  burden,  was  put  on  the  stocks,  intended,  when  finished, 
to  run  as  a  packet  between  Geneva  and  Catherine's  Town,  a  small 
village  at  the  head  of  the  lake,  about  forty-four  miles  distant  from 
Geneva.  Towards  the  close  of  the  season  almost  all  the  new 
buildings  were  finished,  and  the  sloop  was  launched.  The 
circumstance  of  the  sloop,  however  trifling  in  itself,  was  of 
sufficient  importance  to  assemble  several  thousand  people,  and  no 
circumstance  having  occurred  to  draw  together  the  different  settle- 
ments, the  people  composing  them  were  not  a  little  surprised  to 
find  themselves  in  a  country  containing  so  many  inhabitants,  and 
these  so  respectable.  Natives  of  every  state  in  the  union,  and  of 
every  nation  of  Europe,  were  to  be  found  in  the  assemblage,  all 
ambitious  of  the  same  object,  the  aggrandisement  of  the  Genesee 
Country. 

This  season  a  printing  office  was  established  at  Geneva,  and  a 
weekly  gazette  published,  supported  by  eight  hundred  subscribers, 
who,  before  six  months,  increased  to  one  thousand.  Of  the 
settlements  begun  this  season,  one  was  sixteen  miles  south  from 
Geneva,  on  the  outlet  of  the  Crooked  Lake,  which  here  empties 
into  the  Seneca  ;  a  village,  called  Hopetown,  was  laid  out  on  a 
rising  ground  adjacent  to  the  creek,  and  within  half  a  mile  of  the 

•This  tract  of  country  has  continued  to  increase  with  great  rapidity;  one 
hundred  and  fifty  families  moved  into  it  in  the  space  of  a  few  weeks  lant 
winter,  1797. 

VOL.   II.  72 


1138 


PAPERS  RELATING  TO 


lake ;  at  tnc  same  lime  a  set  of  merchant  mills  were  bigun  on  the 
outlet,  about  half  a  mile  from  the  village.  No  situation  in  the 
world  can  be  better  adapted  for  an  establishment  of  this  kind, 
having  not  only  an  excellent  mill-seat  on  a  powerful  and  never 
failing  stream  of  water,  but  it  is  in  the  centre  of  a  rich  and 
flourishing  settlement,  and  possesses  the  advantage  of  a  good  navi-  " 
gation  from  any  part  of  the  Seneca  Lake  to  the  mills,  and  from 
thence  to  Albany  3  and  also,  with  a  trifling  land  carriage,  to  the 
Crooked  Lake.  These  mills  are  intended  as  a  depository  for  all 
grain  taken  in  this  part  of  the  country,  in  payment  for  lands  sold, 
where  it  can  either  be  manufactured  into  flour,  or  distilled,  as  may 
answer  best  for  sale  to  the  new-comers,  or  for  exports  to  Canada  or 
Albany.  One  floor  of  the  mills  will  be  solely  appropriated  for  the 
use  of  the  merchants  residing  in  the  adjacent  country,  who  may 
sell  their  merchandize  for  wheat  delivered  at  the  mills,  and  pay 
storage  for  the  advantage  they  derive.  Mills  of  this  kind,  in 
countries  where  such  vast  crops  of  grain  may  be  raised,  are  highly 
useful  to  the  farmer,  the  merchant,  and  the  great  land-holder. 
On  the  north  side  of  Geneva,  about  the  same  distance  as  Hope- 
town,  a  set  of  mills,  on  a  similar  plan,  were  built  this  season. 
These  last  are  situated  on  a  very  important  navigation,  the 
outlet  of  the  Canadarqua  Lake,  near  its  junction  with  Mud  Creek, 
both  of  which  are  very  considerable  streams,  and  run  through  a 
great  extent  of'jrich  country  already  well  settled.  In  the  settlement 
of  Mud  Creek  alone,  there  were  for  sale,  last  fall,  not  less  than 
ten  thousand  bushels  of  wheat,  of  an  excellent  quality.  From 
the  junction  of  the  two  rivers.  Mud  Creek  affords  good  navigation 
for  boats  of  four  or  five  tons  at  least,  twenty  miles ;  and  the  navi- 
gation downwards  for  boats  of  ten  tons,  is  good  to  Schenectady 
sixteen  miles  only  from  Albany.  The  settlements  in  this  part  of 
the  country  derive  great  advantage  from  the  Western  canals,  which 
the  State  has  patronized  at  much  expense.  On  the  bank  of  Mud 
Creek,  near  the  junction  of  the  two  streams,  is  laid  out  the  village 
of  Lyons,  so  called  from  the  similarity  of  its  situation  to  the  city 
of  that  name  in  France.  The  vicinity  of  this  place  to  the  mills 
and  to  the  salt  works,  and  the  command  of  the  navigation,  both 
to  the  interior  country  and  to  Albany,  contribute  to  make  it  a 


WESTERN  NEW-YORK. 


1139 


place  of  importance  :  such  has  been  the  success  of  this  settlement, 
that  though  only  begun  two  years  ago  it  is  now  almost  one  con- 
tinued village  from  Geneva  to  Lyons,  sixteen  miles.  From  Lyons 
to  Sodus  there  is  a  direct  road,  but  only  a  few  families  are,  as  yet, 
settled  on  it.  The  town  of  Sodus  is  however,  making  considerable 
improvements ;  a  set  of  mills  are  finished,  and  other  considerable 
improvements  are  carrying  on.  This  place  is  situated  on  a  bay 
of  the  same  name,  which  is  well  known  as  the  best  harbour  on 
the  south  side  of  Lake  Ontario.  Few-  or  none,  even  on  the  sea 
coast,  exceed  it  for  spaciousness  and  beauty.  The  extent  of  the 
bay,  from  north  to  south,  is  about  six  or  seven  miles,  and  from 
•  east  to  west,  from  two  to  four  miles.  The  grounds  around  the 
bay  rise  considerably  high,  and  the  entrance  is  not  above  half  a  mile 
over.  So  completely  is  it  protected  from  the  wind,  that  when  the 
lake  IS  agitated  with  a  storm,  the  bay  may  be  passed  safely  in  a 
canoe.  Vessels,  may  anchor  near  the  town  in  twenty-five  fathom 
water,  on  a  sandy  bottom,  and  in  many  places  a  vessel  of  fifty 
tons  might  lay  afloat  near  enough  the  shore  to  land  on  a  plank. 
In  this  bay  there  are  several  islands,*  covered  with  timber,  which 
with  the  head  lands  stretching  into  the  bay  afford  picturesque 
views  from  the  town,  scarcely  to  be  equalled.  The  town  stands 
on  a  rising  ground,  on  the  west  point  of  the  bay,  having  the  lake 
on  the  north,  to  appearance  boundless  as  the  ocean,  and  the  bay 
to  the  east,  romantically  intersected  with  islands,  and  parts  of  the 
main  land  stretching  into  it.  The  first  view^  of  this  place,  after 
passing  through  a  timbered  country  twenty-eight  miles,  strikes  the 
eye  of  the  beholder  as  one  of  the  most  magnificent  landscapes 
human  fancy  can  picture,  and  the  beauty  of  the  scene  is  not  unfre- 
quently  heightened  by  the  appearance  of  large  vessels  navigating 
the  lake.  At  the  sight  of  these  immense  bodies  of  water,  the 
mind  of  a  reflecting  man  must  be  struck  with  admiration.  With 
only  the  interception  of  the  portage  of  nine  miles  at  Niagara 
Falls  they  may  be  navigated  to  the  w^estward  at  least  two  thousand 
miles  ;  and  at  one  place  the  portage  between  Lake  Michigan  and 
the  navigable  waters  of  the  Illinois,  does  not  exceed  half  a  mile. 
I  was  at  Sodus  some  time  ago,  when  a  boat,  with  a  number  of 

*Some  of  these  islands  contain -fifty  acres,  all  of  very  fine  soil  :  they  produce 
vegetables  in  great  abundance,  particularly  onions. 


1140  PAPERS  RELATING  TO 

families  on  board,  put  into  the  bay,  they  appeared  to  be  French. 
Being  questioned  as  to  their  business,  they  said  they  were  bound 
for  the  Spanish  settlements  on  the  Illinois  River,  some  of  them 
had  been  there  the  year  before,  and  stated,  that,  excepting  the 
Falls  of  Niagara,  they  had  only  a  carrying-place  of  half  a  mile 
from  Lake  Michigan  to  a  branch  of  the  Illinois  River.  They  said 
they  had  still  one  thousand  five  hundred  miles  to  sail.  What  an 
extensive  navigation  ! 

You  will  find  the  Genesee  Country  abounding  with  situations 
both  valuable  to  the  farmer  and  amusing  to  the  gentleman  and  man 
of  leisure  :  but  amongst  the  variety  it  affords,  they  must  all  yield 
to  Sodus  ;  for  fishing,  fowling,  sailing  or  hunting,  this  latter  place 
stands  unrivalled  ;  and  perhaps  no  place  in  America  can  equal 
it.  Fish  of  various  kinds,  many  of  them  from  the  ocean,  can  be 
had  at  pleasure  ;  and  a  species  of  soft-shelled  green  turtle*  may 
be  procured  in  plenty,  little  inferior  to  the  green  turtle  brought 
from  the  West  Indies.  In  the  spring  and  fall,  all  sorts  of  water- 
fowl are  innumerable  in  the  bay.  In  the  adjacent  woods  are 
abundance  of  deer  ;  they  may  be  easily  drove  by  dogs  into  the 
bay,  and  the  chace  is  continued  by  water  greatly  to  the  amusement 
of  those  who  are  fond  of  such  sports.  Strangers  going  to  Sodus, 
will  now  find  good  accommodation,  in  a  house  built  for  the  purpose; 
and  they  will  find  handsome  sail-boats,  and  every  apparatus 
necessary  to  accommodate  the  sportsman  in  pursuit  of  his 
amusement. 

The  lands  about  Sodus  are  a  black  sandy  loam,  very  deep  :  a 
soil  not  very  common  in  this  country,  but  of  an  excellent  quality 
for  every  species  of  cultivation  :  it  affords  the  finest  gardens. f 

In  one  of  the  creeks  running  into  the  bay  there  was,  some  time 
ago,  discovered  a  fine  body  of  chocolate  marble,  which  has  been 
found  to  bear  a  good  polish,  and  the  blocks  sufficiently  large  for 
any  sort  of  building  ornament.  On  this  Creek,  now  called  Marble 
Creek,  there  are  some  excellent  mill-seats,  accessible  to  boats 
from  the  lake,  which,  as  the  settlement  increases,  will  come  into 
use.    The  present  mills  are  on  a  creek,  west  of  the  town,  called 

*This  species  of  turtle  weighs  above  20  lb. 

f  It  is  very  common  to  see  onions  in  gardens  at  Sodus  from  fourteen  to  fifteen 
f    "^^rtehes  in  circumference,  and  from  th«  seed  not  sowen  above  four  months. 


WESTERN  NEW-YOEK. 


1141 


Salmon  Creek,  and  consist  of  one  grist-mill  and  two  saw  mills. 

The  only  part  of  the  Genesee  country,  that  seemed,  until  now 
to  have  escaped  the  general  improvement,  was  that  contiguous  U^ 
the  Genesee  River,  belpw  Hartford  or  Canawagas  :  a  set  of  verj 
good  mills,  however,  had  been  built  at  the  falls,  and  some  settlei? 
were  to  be  found  in  that  neighbourhood,  on  the  fertile  plains  hy 
the  side  of  the  river  :  but  the  idea  of  exposure  to  Indian  depre 
dations  on  a  frontier  is  always  sufficient  to  prevent  the  man  of 
industry  and  property  from  setthng.  The  luxuriance  of  the  soil 
will  not  always  tempt  him.  The  moment,  however,  the  western 
posts  were  given  up  to  the  United  States,  and  this  part  of  the 
country  rendered  safe,  the  industrious  settlers  turned  their  attention 
to  the  lands  west  of  the  river ;  and  they  now  bid  fair  to  prove  one 
of  the  best  settlements  in  the  western  country 

I  am  &c. 

LETTER  III. 

Dear  Sir, 

The  emigration  that  took  place  in  the  year  1797,  into  this 
Western  Country,  not  only  exceeded  former  years,  as  to  numbers, 
but  also  as  to  the  respectability  of  the  emigrants ;  a  very  great 
proportion  of  the  settlers  were  the  most  substantial  farmers  from 
Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  the  Jerseys,  and  New  England.  The 
country  had  already  been  so  far  improved,  that  the  inhabitants 
lived  m  comfort,  and  even  luxury;  regular  weekly  markets  had 
been  established  in  Geneva,  Canadarqua,  and  Bath ;  and  were  well 
supplied  with  meat  of  all  kinds.  The  flour  from  our  mills  was 
inferior  to  none  on  the  continent,  and  the  merchants'  stores  were 
regularly  supplied.  The  United  States  had  established  a  weekly 
post  for  the  carriage  of  letters  :  in  fact,  we  found  no  inconvenience 
but  that  the  access  to  the  country,  for  near  one  hundred  miles  on 
each  side,  was  through  settlements,  in  point  of  improvement,  far 
behind  those  in  tlie  Genesee  Country.  To  improve  our  commu- 
nication with  the  coast  seemed  to  be  all  that  was  necessary  to 
render  this  coimtry  equal  to  any  part  of  America,  for  comfort  and 
convenience  :  in  many  thing's,  particularly  the  climate,  w^e  had 
much  the  advantage.  To  remedy  this  inconvenience  as  to  roads, 
the  Legislature  of  the  State  had,  by  an  act  passed  in  the  session 


PAPERS  RELATING  TO 


of  taken  the  road  from  Fort  Schuyler  to  Geneva  under  their 

patronage.  A  lottery  Had  been  granted  for  the  opening  and  improvmg 
of  certain  great  roads  ;  among  these,  this  road  was  included.  The 
inhabitants  of  the  country  through  which  the  road  passed,  made  a 
voluntary  offer  of  their  services,  to  aid  the  State  Commissioner, 
and  subscribed  four  thousand  days  work,  which  they  performed 
with  fidelity  and  cheerfulness.  By  this  generous  and  uncommon* 
exertion,  and  by  some  other  contributions,  the  State  Commissioner 
was  enabled  to  complete  this  road  of  near  one  hundred  miles, 
opening  it  sixty-four  feet  wide,  and  paving  with  logs  and  gravel, 
the  moist  parts  of  the  low  country  through  which  it  was  carried. 
Hence  the  road  from  Fort  Schuyler,  on  the  Mohawk  River,  to 
Genesee,  from  being,  in  the  month  of  June,  1797,  a  little  better  thmi 
an  Indian  path,  was  so  far  improved,  that  a  stage  started  from 
Fort  Schuyler  on  the  30th  of  September,  and  ariived  at  the  hotel 
in  Geneva,  in  the  afternoon  of  the  third  day,  with  four  passengers. 
This  line  of  road  having  been  established  by  law,  not  less  than 
fifty  families  settled  on  it  in  the  space  of  four  months  after  it  was 
opened.  It  now  bids  fair  to  be,  in  a  few  years,  one  continued 
settlement  from  Fort  Schuyler  to  the  Genesee  River.  All  last 
winter  two  stages,  one  of  them  a  mail  stage,  ran  from  Geneva  and 
Canadarqua  to  Albany  weekly. 

A  wilderness  changed,  in  so  few  years,  to  the  comfortable 
residence  of  a  numerous  body  of  industrious  people,  who  enjoy 
the  comforts  and  conveniences  of  life  in  a  degree  superior  to  most 
parts  of  the  United  States,  affords  matter  of  curiosity  to  the  intelli- 
gent traveller,  and  many  respectable  characters  undertake  the 
journey  from  no  other  motive.  To  them,  therefor^,  it  must  be 
highly  gratifying  to  find  entertainment  and  •  accommodation  equal 
to  any  thing  of  the  kind  in  America.  Very  few  places  of  the 
size  now  exceed  Geneva,  either  as  to  the  stile  of  the  buildings,  the 
beauty  of  the  adjoining  country,  or  valuable  improvements. 

The  number  of  sail-boats  have  greatly  increased  on  the  lake, 
and  the  sloop  finds  constant  employment :  and,  in  addition  to  their 
comforts,  a  person  from  Scotland  has  established,  at  Geneva,  a 
very  respectable  brewery,  which  promises  to  destroy  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood, the  baneful  use  of  spirituous  liquors.    The  apple  and 


WES  TEH  N   NEW- YORK. 


1143 


peach  orchards,  left  by  the  Indians,  yield  every  year  abundance  of 
fruit,  for  the  use  of  the  inhabitants,  besides  making  considerable 
cyder ;  so  much  so,  that  one  farmer  near  Geneva  sold  cyder,  this 
year,  to  the  amount  of  one  thousand  two  hundred  dollars. 

So  respectable  are  these  establishments  in  this  western  country, 
that  any  one  of  them  would  be  sufficient  to  give  a  stranger  a  high 
opinion  of  its  progressive  state  :  but  the  traveller  of  observation 
cannot  fail  to  be  highly  gratified  to  find,  on  passing  the  counties  of 
Ontario  and  Steuben,  at  least  twenty  respectable  and  distinct  settle- 
ments, each  under  Ihe  direction  of  some  enterprising  man,  whose 
greatest  ambition,  and  that  of  his  fellow  settlers,  is  to  distinguish 
their  settlement  above  the  others.  Water,  in  the  town  of  Geneva, 
is  brought,  in  pipes,  from  a  remarkable  spring,  at  the  distance  of 
a  mile  and  a  half,  so  that  each  house  is  plentifully  supplied  at  the 
door  J  and  a  number  of  farmers  in  the  adjoining  country  bring 
water  into  their  farm-yards  and  kitchens.  These  conveniences 
<show  the  comfort  in  which  they  live. 

A  new  settlement  was  this  year  begun  on  the  west  side  of  the 
falls  of  the  Genesee  River,  about  nine  miles  from  Lake  Ontario, 
and  at  no  great  distance  from  the  mills  already  built.  Several  of 
these  settlers,  being  from  the  sea-coast  of  NewEngland,  particularly 
a  Mr.  Granger,  turned  their  attention  to  the  navigation  of  the  lake, 
and  its  communication  with  the  Genesee  River.  The  navigation  of 
the  river  is  here  intercepted  by  four  successive  magnificent  falls, 
the  highest  of  them  ninety  six  feet :  around  these  falls  a  carrymg 
place  was  made,  and  the  inhabitants  on  the  Genesee  River  now 
receive  their  salt  from  the  Onondaga  salt  works,  and  their  stores 
from  Albany,  with  a  very  trifling  land  carriage  compared  with  what 
they  were  necessitated  to  undertake  from  Geneva.  The  opening 
of  this  navigation  has  also  furnished  them  with  a  ready  water 
communication  for  their  surplus  produce.  Mr.  Granger,  last 
winter,  built  a  schooner  of  forty  tons,  which  was  launched  early 
in  April :  before  the  middle  of  May  she  made  a  trip  to  Niagara, 
with  two  hundred  barrels  of  provisions,  and  there  were  then 
laying  on  the  beach  two  hundred  barrels  more,  ready  to  be  put  on 
board  on  her  return.  If  we  calculate  on  what  has  been  experienced 
in  the  other  setilements,  th^  port  on  the  Genesee  River  bids  feu'j 


1144 


PAPERS  RELATING  TO 


in  a  Tery  few  years,  to  be  a  place  of  considerable  importance 

Should  the  inhabitants  of  the  immense  flats  on  the  Genesee 
River  and  the  adjacent  country  turn  their  attention  to  the  cultiva- 
tion of  hemp,  and  the  manufacturing  of.it  into  cordage,  which 
may  be  sent,  with  very  trifling  land  carriage,  either  to  Quebec  or 
Baltimore,  both  of  which  are  advantageous  markets,  it  is  not  pos- 
sible to  calculate  what  may  hereafter  be  the  value  of  this  country. 

1798.  The  number  of  families  that  came  into  this  country  last 
winter  far  exceeded  any  former  year.  Not  less  than  three  thou- 
sand people  are  supposed  to  have  come  into  the  counties  of 
Ontario  and  Steuben  in  the  course  of  six  weeks  last  winter  ;  and 
this  spring  families  were  coming  in  the  moment  the  navigation 
was  free  from  ice.  A  Mr.  Thayer,  with  a  number  of  families, 
moved  into  a  new  settlement  on  a  tract  of  land  south  of  Brad- 
dock's  Bay.  As  a  necessary  measure,  and  to  follow  the  footsteps 
of  others,  they  are  already  building  their  mills,  having  brought 
^vith  them  all  the  materials. 

Another  settlement  of  Germans,  from  Pennsylvania,  was  this 
season  begun  at  the  south-west  extremity  of  Steuben  county, 
where  they  have  a  rich,  unequal  country,  but  well  watered.  These 
lands,  being  remote  from  the  roads  leading  into  the  country,  have 
heretofore  been  undervalued  ;  but  the  opening  of  a  communication 
from  that  quarter  to  Pennsyl  vania,  which  is  already  partly  effected, 
will  make  it  a  commodious  situation. 

The  rapid  progress  of  this  new  country,  in  every  comfort  and 
convenience  has  not  only  caused  the  emigration  of  vast  numbers 
of  substantial  farmers,  but  also  of  men  of  liberal  education,  who 
find  here,  a  society  not  inferior  to  that  in  the  oldest  country  settle- 
inents  in  America.  The  schools  are  far  from  being  indifferent, 
and  even  the  foundations  of  public  libraries  are  already  laid.  The 
gentleman  fond  of  a  rural  life,  or  the  amusements  of  the  field,  may 
here  gratify  himself ;  he  may  find  a  situation  for  a  country-seat, 
that  will  please  the  most  romantic  fancy  :  the  excellence  of  the 
climate  and  soil  will  afford  him  every  certainty  of  a  great  return 
for  his  trouble  and  expense  as  a  farmer,  and  with  little  trouble 
his  garden  may  equal  any  gentleman's  in  England.*    Indeed,  with 

*  Musk  and  water-melons,  and  all  the  delicate  plants  produced  la  the  iaterior 
•r  Fianee,  come  to  perfection  in  oar  gardens. 


WESTERN  KEW-YORK.  1145 

the  advantage  of  climate  and  soilj  the  great  variety  of  situations 
can  only  be  equalled  in  the  finest  parts  of  England. 

You  will  find  the  climate  of  the  Genesee  Country  not  only  forms 
a  very  interesting  part  of  its  advantages,  but  also  of  its  natural 
nistory  :  those  parching  heats  that,  on  the  south  side  of  the  Al'Je- 
ghany  Mountains,  seem  to  dry  up  every  particle  of  nourishment 
from  the  plants;  are  never  known  in  this  country:  in  almost  every 
instance  a  hot  day  is  succeeded  by  a  plentiful  shower,  which  pre- 
serves throughout  the  summer,  a  constant  verdure  and  affords  to 
us  the  finest  pastures  and  meadows  on  the  continent :  the  nights 
are  proportionately  cool,  and  a  traveller  from  the  sea  coast  is 
surprized  to  find,  in  the  dog-days,  a  couple  of  blankets  a  comfort- 
able covering.  Late  frosts  in  the  spring,  and  early  ones  in  the 
fall,  are  uncommon,  and  there  is  scarcely  an  instance  of  the  fruit 
or  corn  suffering  by  them.  The  peach  trees,  the  great  test  of  a 
climate  free  from  severe  and  late  spring  frosts,  come  to  great  per- 
fection ;  in  one  orchard,  at  an  old  Indian  town  near  Geneva,  the 
occupier  of  the  farm  sold,  last  year,  to  a  neighboring  distillery,, 
one  hundred  bushels  of  peaches. 

In  the  winters  of  1796  and  1797,  two  gentlemen  kept  regular 
diaries  of  the  weather,  the  one  at  Bath  in  Steuben  county,  the 
other  at  Lancaster  in  Pennsylvania,  the  result  was,  that  at  Lan- 
caster the  cold  was  greater  than  at  Bath,  from  11°  to  13°  during 
the  mnter  ;  but  the  spring  commenced  ten  days  later.  If  more 
proof  was  necessary  to  establish  this  important  fact  :  viz.  th^ 
moderation  of  the  climate,  it  might  be  stated,  that  the  settlers  have^ 
in  many  parts  of  the  country,  been  in  the  custom  of  turning  inta 
the  woods  part  of  their  cattle  before  winter,  at  a  distance  from 
their  farms  and  they  have  been  found,  in  every  instance,  in  good 
order,  and  with  less  loss  than  might  be  expected  from  the  same  num- 
ber of  cattle  if  kept  about  the  bouses.  The  frosts  have  never  been 
so  severe  as  to  stop  the  operation  of  the  mills,  provided  very  trifling 
precaution  is  used.  So  remarkable  was  this  circumstance  in  1797, 
that  a  number  of  sleds  came  from  Pensylvania  to  the  Bath  mills, 
a  distance  of  seventy  miles.  Except  in  shallow  places  the  lakes 
never  freeze  :  and  the  navigation  of  the  Seneca  Lake  has  not 
been  impeded  since  the  settlement  of  the  country.  This  will 
appear  the  more  remarkable,  when,  frequently  within  that  penod. 


J146 


PAPERS   RELATING  TO 


the  North  River  has  been  frozen  at  New- York,  the  Delaware  forty 
miles  below  Philadelphia,  and  the  Chesapeak  Bay  as  low  as 
Annapolis.  All  this  is  owing  to  the  relative  situation  of  the  Gen- 
esee Country.  The  country  is  bounded,  on  the  north  and  west  by 
great  bodies  of  water,  which  do  not  freeze,  and  in  this  direction 
there  is  not  one  mountain.  The  northerly  and  westerly  winds, 
which  scourge  the  coast  of  America,  by  blowing  over  the  Alle- 
ghany Mountains  late  in  the  spring  and  early  in  the  fall,  covered 
with  snow  are  tempered  by  passing  over  these  waters  ;  and  these 
mountains  to  the  south  of  us  do,  at  the  same  time  prevent  the  des- 
tructive effects  of  the  southerly  breeze  in  winter,  which  by  suddenly 
thawing  the  frozen  wheat-fields,  destroys  thousands  of  bushels. 
While  the  Lakes  and  Alleghany  Mountains  are  in  existance, 
so  long  will  the  inhabitants  of  the  Genesee  Country  be  blessed 
with  their  present  temperate  cHmate.  The  town  of  Bath  has, 
this  season,  increased  considerably,  and  much, improvement  has 
been  made  on  the  different  roads  leading  to  it.  The  opening 
a  market  to  Baltimore  for  our  lumber  and  fat  cattle,  has  also  raised  a 
spirit  amongst  the  inhabitants  to  improve  the  navigation  of  the  Con- 
hocton.  A  handsome  court-house,  and  a  very  secure  and  conve- 
nient goal,  are  added  to  the  number  of  our  buildings;  and  the 
inhabitants  have  recently  encouraged  a  clergyman  to  settle  amongst 
them.    Thus  from  year  to  year  we  improve. 

I  am  &c. 

LETTER  IV. 

Dear  Sir, 

It  has  very  erroneously  been  supposed,  that  the  face  of  the 
Genesee  Country  was  flat  and  level,  full  of  swamps  and  stagnant 
waters  ;  but,  in  fact,  the  direct  contrary  is  the  case.  The  face  of 
the  country  from  Geneva  to  the  Genesee  River  appears  to  be  a 
succession  of  gentle  swellings  of  land,  running  most  frequently 
from  north  to  south  ;  and  the  intermediate  spaces  afford  considerable 
bottom  or  meadow  land,  and  generally  a  small  stream  of  water. 
This  furnishes  the  best  situations  imaginable  for  farms,  there  being 
a  due  proportion  of  high  land  and  meadow.  The  upland,  as  it  is 
termed,  is  timbered  chiefly  with  hickory,  oak,  and  walnut ;  and 
the  interval  with  elm,  basswood,  sugar-tree,  &c.    The  stone  fcunc 


WESTER^^  KEW-YORK. 


1147 


on  these  ridges  mostly  inclines  to  lime-stone,  which  is  a  certain 
indication  of  the  best  land  for  every  species  of  grain.  The 
openings,  or  large  tracts  of  land,  found  frequently  in  this  country 
free  of  timber,  and  showing  great  signs  of  having  been  once  jn  a 
state  of  cultivation,  are  singularly  curious.  This  sort  of  land^ 
from  the  ignorance  of  the  first  settler?  in  regard  to  its  quality,  was 
supposed  to  be  barren,  and  was  therefore  little  valued  :  necessity, 
however,  obliged  some  to  attempt  the  cultivation  of  it,  and  they 
were  agreeably  disappointed  on  finding  they  had  got  a  good  crop, 
and  in  numberless  instances  they  have  continued  to  reap  plentiful 
crops  every  year  for  seven  years  past.  This  kind  of  land,  w^hich, 
six  years  ago  would  not  have  sold  for  a  quarter  of  a  dollar  an 
acre,  is  now  reckoned  cheap  at  ten  dollars  an  acre.  It  is  difficult 
to  account  for  these  openings,  or  for  the  open  flats  on  the  Genesee* 
River,  where  ten  thousand  acres  may  be  found  in  one  body,  not 
even  encumbered  with  a  bush,  but  covered  with  grass  of  such 
height,  that  the  largest  bullocks,  at  thirty  feet  from  the  path,  will 
be  completely  hid  from  the  view.  Through  all  this  country  there 
are  not  only  signs  of  extensive  cultivation  having  been  made  at 
some  early  period,  but  there  are  found  the  remains  of  old  forts, 
where  the.  ditches  and  gates  are  still  visible.  They  appear  to  be, 
in  general,  well  chosen  for  defence.  From  the  circumstance  of 
swords  being  found  in  them  with  French  inscriptions,  it  is  concluded 
they  are  of  French  origin.  I  do  not  recollect  that  the  French 
had  ever  so  great  a  force  in  this  part  of  America,:  at  so  early  a 
period  ;  for  these  forts,  from  very  large  decayed  timbers  lying  in 
them,  and  large  timber  growing  over  those  fallen  down,  must  be 
at  least  two  hundred  years  old:  the  forts  are,  besides,  too  numerous 
for  mere  stations;  and  great  collections  of  human  bodies  are  found 
in  them,  w^hich  shows  they  have  been  occupied  for  many  years. 
An  accurate  examination  of  this  country,  by  men  of  observation 
and  science,  might  throw  light  on  the  history  of  this  part  of 
America,  npw  so  little  known. 

The  soil  of  the  country  has,  in  every  instance,  proved  favourable 
to  the  raising  of  grain  :  the  long  and  moderate  summers  seem 
particularly  adapted  to  bring  to  perfection  wheat,  barley  and  oais  ; 
the  two  last,  so  inferior  on  the  coast  to  the  English,  are  here  of  a 


U48 


PAPERS  RELATING  TO 


quality  equally  as  good.  The  crops  of  timothy  and  clover  hay  arc 
superior  to  most  in  America;  and  have  been  known  to  produce  from" 
three  to  four  tons  per  acre,  of  excellent  well  dryed  hay.*  The  price 
of  grain  and  average  produce  per  acre  is  nearly  as  follows : 

price  per  busl>el  Dol's.    Cu.         Produce  in  bushels  per  acre 

Wheat,   1  from  25  to  30 

Rye,   75  40  to  50 

Oats,   50  40  to  50 

Indian  corn,   50  30  to  60 

Barley,   70  60 

Ten  dollars  per  ton  for  timothy  and  clover  hay  ;  the  product  is  * 
from  two  to  three  tons  per  acre  on  an  average.  That  you  may  be 
able  to  ascertain,  with  some  accuracy,  the  advantage  that  may  be 
reaped  from  an  expenditure  of  capital  in  this  country,  in  improving 
a  farm,  it  is  necessary  to  make  some  calculation,  founded  on  the 
expence  and  probable  return. 

It  has  been  found,  by  repeated  experience,  that  when  wheat  is 
about  one  dollar  per  bushel,  an  acre  of  ground,  taken  from  a  state 
of  nature,  and  well  timbered,  will  require,  with  great  economy, 
fourteen  dollars  per  acre  to  put  it  into  a  crop  of  wheat  or  rye, 
including  every  expense  :  this  I  have  seen  ascertained  with  great 
accuracy,  in  a  field  of  forty  acres,  near  Geneva  :  these  forty  acres  - 
may  be,  at  the  least,  expected  to  yield  one  thousand  bushels  of 
wheat ;  and  after  deducting  two  tenths  or  two  hundred  bushels, 
for  reaping  and  threshing,  leaves  a  balance  of  eight  hundred 
Dushels  to  defray  the  expense  and  as  profit  for  the  value  of  the 
land  used  ;  and  the  land  is  left  in  complete  order  for  a  second 
crop,  without  any  more  expense  than  the  trifling  one  of  plowing 
and  sowing. 

It  is  also  found,  that  the  temperate  climate,  and  richness  of  the 
K)astures,  particularly  adapt  the  Genesee  Country  for  those  branches 
of  farming  dependant  on  cattle.  No  part  of  America  is  better 
aaapted  for  dairy  farms  ;  for  at  no  time  is  the  weather  so  hot  but 
butter  can  be  made  and  preserved.  The  quantity  of  cheese 
already  made  is  considerable  ;  several  farmers  keeping  from  twenty 

*  This  season  a  field  of  twenty  acres  was  averaged  at  Bath,  and  found  to  bear 
of  good  hay  three  tons  8  ewt.  46  lb,  per  acre.  In  many  places  the  red  clover 
was  four  feet  seven  inches  long. 


WESTERN  NEW-YORK. 


1149 


to  thirty  cows.  The  cattle  brought  into  the  country  from  the  . 
neighbouring  States  thrive  well,  and  some  bred  in  the  country 
have  grown  to  a  great  size.*  The  mildness  and  short  duration  of 
the  wmter,  when  compared  with  that  of  the  great  cattle  cour.ti.ts  ^ 
in  the  New-England  States,  are  much  in  favour  of  the  Genesee 
Country.  When  we  consider  the  ease  with  which  every  thing  can 
be  sent  to  market,  the  surplus  grain,  the  product  of  the  dairy, 
the  salt  provisions,  and  fat  cattle,  will  at  once  appear  a  fund  of 
wealth  to  the  country. 

The  settlements  already  formed  on  the  principal  navigations,  and 
whose  inhabitants  are  used  to  business,  and  respectably  connected, 
find,  at  an  early  period,  the  most  advantageous  markets  for  their 
surplus  produce.  To  Canada,  beef,  salt,  pork,t  flour,  and  whisky, 
are  already  sent  to  a  great  amount. |  To  the  county  of  Steuben, 
nature  has  pointed  out  a  market  by  the  Susquehannah  River. 
Several  of  its  branches  afford  good  navigation  to  the  most  westerly 
parts  of  the  county.  They  may  be  navigated  almost  to  their 
source,  for  five  or  six  months  in  the  year,  by  boats  carrying  from 
f  ve  to  eight  tons  ;  but  when  the  surplus  produce  requires  the 
carriage  of  heavy  articles,  to  Baltimore,  the  natural  sea  port  of 
this  part  of  the  country,  for  six  weeks  or  two  months  in  the 
spring,  while  the  waters  are  kept  high  by  the  melting  of  the  snow 

•A  four  years  old  bullock  was  killed  at  Bath  in  November  last  that  weighed 
12  cwt.  28  lb.  And  this  spring  a  bullock  was  killed  at  the  same  place  that 
measured  seventeen  hands  and  a  half  high,  eleven  feet  six  inches  from  the 
root  of  his  horns  to  the  root  of  his  tail,  and  nine  feet  six  inches  in  the  girth — 
he  sold  for  two  hundred  and  forty-seven  dollars  cash. 

t  The  salt  works  at  Onondago  are  now  under  the  directio  i  of  the  State.  As 
the  salt  can  be  brought  to  the  Seneca  Lake  or  the  Genesee  River  by  water,  it 
can  be  procured  here  at  little  more  expense  than  on  the  sea  coast,  and  equally 
as  good. 

J  A  g^eat  quantity  of  spirituous  liquors  is  necessary  for  the  supply  of  the 
western  posts,  and  Indian  trade  in  Canada.  The  whisky,  for  some  years  back, 
has  been  sent  from  Northumberland,  in  Pennsylvania;  after  a  carriage  of  four 
hundred  miles  it  is  sold  for  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  per  gallon  at  Niagara,  and 
two  dollars  and  fifty  cents  at  Detroit.  The  county  of  Ontario,  from  its  com 
munication  with  Lake  Ontario,  has  a  very  decided  advantage;  and  the  distill 
Ing  of  whiskey  has  already  become  an  object  to  our  farmers. 


PAPERS  RELATING  TO 


on  the  Alleghany  Mountains,  a  species  of  boat*  may  be  made  to 
desc  end  the  stream  that  will  carry  from  two  to  five  hundred  barrels 
of  flour.  Lumber  for  the  Baltimore  market  can  be  sent  down  with 
ease,  and  at  little  expense,  when  compared  with  the  high  price  of 
boards,  &c. 

The  opening  the  navigation  to  Baltimore,  and  the  ease  with 
which  bulky  articles  can  be  carried  to  one  of  the  best  markets  in 
the  United  states,  places  the  county  of  Steuben  in  a  situation 
highly  flattering  to  its  future  prospects.  The  land-holder  will 
receive,  in  payment  for  his  lands,  articles  fit  for  the  Baltimore 
market,!  and  the  settlers  will  be  encouraged  to  make  great 
exertions  to  pay  from  the  soil,  for  the  land  they  have  purchased. 

The  success  of  every  individua:!  who  has  emigrated  to  the 
Genesee  Country,  has  stamped  a  greater  value  on  the  lands  than 
ever  was  known  in  any  place  so  recently  settled,  and  so  distant 
from  the  old  settled  country  ;  but  this  has,  in  a  great  measure,  been 
owing  to  the  convenience  and  security  afforded  to  the  settlers  at 
the  earliest  period  of  their  emigration. 

In  several  instances  I  have  advised  the  following  plan  for  the 
settlement  of  a  few  families  of  Europeans.  In  this  I  have  con- 
sidered their  apprehensions  and  difficulties,  when  scattered  in  a 
woody  country,  and  the  advantage  they  may  gain  by  being  mutually 
able  to  aid  and  encourage  each  other.  I  proposed  that  the  whole 
body  should,  instead  of  scattering  in  the  woods,  fix  themselves  in 
a  village,  and  bestow  their  first  labour  on  improving  the  village 
lots,  which,  to  save  the  labour  of  fencing,  should  be  worked  up  in 
a  number  of  small  portions  by  the  settlement  under  one  common- 
fence,  but  each  lot  to  belong  to  the  individual  proprietor.  Houses  . 
could  be  built  at  a  small  expence  on  each  town  lot,  to  accommodate 
families.    Foreigners  will  find  much  advantage  from  following  a 

•A  Mr.  Kryder,  of  Juneata  River,  invented  these  boats  about  six  years  ago; 
the  high  price  of  flour  and  lumber  induced  him  to  make  the  experiment,  and  he 
arrived  safe  at  Baltimore  with  his  load.  They  have  been  used  every  year  since 
that  time,  and  are  made  of  plank:  they  are  broke  up  after  discharging  their 
cargo,  and  sold  for  lumber,  with  little  or  no  loss;  they  are  navigated  by  three 
or  five  men,  and  will  float  down  at  the  rate  of  eighty  miles  per  day;~lhey  are 
called  Arks. 

t  The  proper  articles  for  the  Baltimore  market  are  lumber,  such  as  ship  plank 
boards,  soantling,  lath  and  shingles — fat  cattle,  barrelled  beef  and  pork,  flour, 
barley  and  hemp,  may  also,  at  little  expence,  be  transported  on  the  rafts 


WESTERN  NEW-yORI^. 


pian  of  this  kind:  one  third  the  number  of  cattle  will  be  sufficient 
for  the  purposes  of  husbandry,  and  a  great  deal  more  produce 
will  be  raised  in  a  large  enclosure  than  in  a  number  of  small  ^ 
separate  ones,  making  the  same  extent  of  land.  In  small  fields, 
surrounded  with  woods,  one  half  will  be  overshadowed,  so  as  to 
bear  little  crops.  As  the  settlers  find  it  convenient,  they  can 
improve,  and  afterwards  move  to  their  farm  lots,  and  lease  or  sell 
to  mechanics  their  town  lots. 

One  mill,  one  blacksmith,  and  one  road  will  serve  the  settle- 
ment, at  a  time  when  every  shilling  is  valuable,  and  every  hour's 
labour  of  much  consequence  ;  and  the  satisfaction  of  a  society 
labouring  together,  who  are  bound  to  each  other  by  the  strongest 
motives  to  friendship,  will  lighten  the  most  arduous  task. 

I  have  no  idea  that  you  can  reap  any  benefit  from  my  attempting 
lo  give  you  information  on  the  mode  of  farming  in  this  country;  that 
you  must  condescend  to  learn  here  ;  but  it  is  requisite  that  you 
know  the  prices  of  the  implements,  necessary  for  a  farmer. 

A  good  log  Jiouse,*  with  two  rooms,  if  made  by  hired  men, 


will  cost  100  Dollars 

Oxen  per  yoke,  70 
A  cow,  15 

Farming  utensils  necessary  at  first  20 
An  oxcart,  30 


This  is  the  least  any  family  can  do  with,  unless  a  number  com- 
bine together.    The  wealthy  man  may  add  what  he  pleases. 

If  the  dam  is  not  difficult,  a  small  grist-mill  and  saw-mill  may 
be  built  for  one  thousand  dollars. 

J  am  &c. 
LETTER  V. 

Dear  Sir, 

When  a  census  of  this  state  was  taken,  in  the  year  1790,  the 
number  of  inhabitants  in  the  counly  of  Ontario  was  estimated  at 
nine  hundred  and  sixty  souls  ;  but  even  in  this  small  number,  there 
were  included  Surveyors  and  their  chainbearers,  &c,  and  even  those 

*  A  small  log-  house,  twenty  feet  square,  will  cost  fifty  dollars  ;  a  number 
settling  together  can  do  with  one  yoke  of  oxen,  and  of  course,  one  set  of 
f;umlng  utensils,  for  every  two  families,  the  first  year. 


I 


1162 


PAPEliS  llELATING  TO 


whom  cunosity  had  drawn  into  the  country.  Every  year  since  that 
period  considerable  additions  have  been  made  to  the  number  of 
inhabitants ;  but  for  the  last  two  years  the  increase  has  been  pro- 
portionably  greater  than  the  preceding.  Within  the  space  of  five 
weeks  last  winter,  five  hundred  and  seventy  sleighs,  with  families 
passed  through  Geneva. 

The  great  number  of  settlements  into  which  the  new  inhabitants 
spread  themselves,  renders  it  impossible  to  ascertain  the  present 
number  of  souls  ;  but  considering  the  great  difficulties  we  had  to 
encounter  for  many  years,  and  bur  distance  from  the  old  settle- 
ments, our  population  .is  astonishingly  increased.  It  may  be 
nearly  judged  of  by  concurrent  circumstances ;  but,  until  our 
census  is  taken,  it  cannot  be  exactly  ascertained. 

We  find,  amongst  the  circumstances  from  which  our  population 
can  be  ascertained,  that  the  printer  of  the  OntaHo  Gazette 
disperses,  weekly,  not  less  than  one  thousand  papers,  and  the 
printer  of  the  Batk  Gazette^  from  four  to  five  hundred.  From  this 
some  judgment  may  be  formed,  not  only  of  the  number,  but  of  the 
respectability  of  the  people  settled  in  the  country.  As  it  is  several 
years  since  the  mrlitia  of  the  county  of  Ontario  was  organized, 
we  cannot  judge  of  the  population  by  the  number  of  regiments  ;  they 
are  at  present  formed  into  a  brigade  of  three  complete  battalions, 
and  a  very  excellent  troop  of  horse.  The  militia  of  Steuben 
county  consists  of  only  one  battalion  of  infantry  to  which  are 
attached  a  troop  of  horse,  a  company  of  grenadiers  and  light 
infantry,  and  a  company  of  riflemen.  These  companies,  and  a 
troop  of  horse,  are  in  complete  uniform. 

A  very  just  idea  may  be  formed  of  the  population  and  respecta- 
bility of  a  settlement,  by  the  number  of  mills.  W^ithin  my 
Knowledge  there  are  in  Ontario  County  nineteen  grist-mills,  and 
twenty-eight  saw-mills,  and  some  of  them  equal  to  any  in  America: 
m  Steuben  county  there  are  only  ten  grist-mills  and  twenty 
saw-mills. 

All  the  first  settlers  in  this  country  were  from  New-England; 
this  circumstance  probably  arose  from  access  to  it  being  from  that 
quarter  only,  and  the  purchasers  from  the  State  being  New-England 
people.    Indeed,  until  after  the  opening  of  the  road  to  Pennsylva- 


WESTERN  NEW- YORK. 


1153 


nia,  over  the  Alleghany  Mountains,  there  was  scarcely  one  instance 
to  the  contrary.  But  the  opening  of  this  communication,  and  the 
means  that  have  been  taken  to  make  the  inhabitants  of  the 
adjoining  States  acquainted  with  the  country,  have  induced  a  great 
many  to  immigrate  from  the  Jerseys,  Pennsylvania  and  Delaware, 
and  this  season  a  considerable  number  from  Maryland.  The 
settlers  from  New-England,  a  people  remarkably  enterprising, 
long  supposed  that  no  others  would  venture  into  a  country  so 
remote  from  their  homes ;  but  since  the  improving  of  the  waggon 
road  to  the  southward,  it  is  found  to  be  considerably  easier  to 
remove  from  Philadelphia,  Lancaster,  Trenton  and  Baltimore,  than 
from  New -England.  The  number  of  emigrants  from  Pennsylvania, 
Maryland  and  New-Jersey,  has  been  greatly  on  the  increase,  ahd 
4:ustom  has  made  the  distance  familiar.  I  have  known  several 
persons  above  sixty  years  of  age,  ride,  with  ease,  in  seven  days 
from  Baltimore  to  Bath.  When  they  compare  this  with  the 
difficulty  of  reaching  the  new  settlements  on  the  western  waters, 
and  the  little  value  of  produce  there,  the  comparison  is  highly 
in  favour  of  the  Genesee.*  Here  they  find  the  inhabitants 
enjoying  more  comforts  and  conveniences  than  is  at  this  moment 
experienced  in  many  settlements  of  twenty  years  standing.  The 
most  advantageous  markets  are  courted,  and  reeourse  is  had  to 
them  by  such  exertions,  that  men  of  respectability  and  property 
are  drawn  into  the  country,  not  only  from  the  neighbouring  States, 
but  from  Europe. 

An  European,  who  contemplates  moving  to  America,  has  a  vast 
field  before  him.  The  United  States  offer  a  variety  of  soil,  climate 
and  people.  It  is  difficult  to  select  from  these,  the  situation  most 
comformable  to  his  opinions  and  habits.  That  country  whose 
climate  requires  exertion  and  industry  to  procure  the  comforts  of 
life,  and  whose  geographical  situation  admits  of  its  produce  being 
easily  transported  to  market,  certainly  bids  fair  for  having  an 
orderly  and  well  regulated  government.  The  certainty  of  reaping 
a  moderate  profit,  is  the  only  security  for  industry. 

This  is  very  far  from  being  the  case  on  the  western  waters. 

*  It  is  found  that  the  price  of  lumber,  fat  cattle,  butter  and  cheese,  is  at  least 
fifty  per  cent  higher  in  Baltimore  than  in  Albany;  a  circumstance  much  in 
favor  of  Steuben  county,  when  compared  with  the  counties  North  of  Albany. 

VOL.  u.  73 


1154 


PAPERS   RELATING  TO 


riieir  corn,  the  common  food  of  the  inhabitants,  is  sometimes  62| 
cents  per  busliel  and  sometimes  12 J,  and  everything  else  in 
proportion*  The  distance  from  any  large  city  is  too  far  to  drive 
fat  cattle,  and  the  climate  too  warm  for  the  dairy,  or  to  allow 
salting  or  barrelling  beef,  could  salt  be  procured.  That  country 
seems  also  to  have  a  different  interest  from  the  .Atlantic  States. 
With  the  Genesee  Country  these  objections  do  not  hold  good:  droves 
of  fat  cattle  can  be  sent  at  any  time  to  Philadelphia,  New- York, 
Albany,  or  Baltimore.  The  distance  is  not  so  great  as  the  best 
grazing  countries  in  Massachusetts,  from  whence  they  have,  for  many 
years  past,  drove  their  fat  cattle  to  Philadelphia.  From  the  south 
part  of  the  Genesee  Country,  cattle,  as  well  as  every  kind  of 
produce,  can,  in  the  spring,  be  sent  down  the  Susquehannah,  either 
for  the  Philadelphia  or  Baltimore  market.  The  Onondaga  salt- 
works being  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  Genesee  Country, 
afford  salt  at  an  easy  rate  for  curing  beef  and  pork,  either  for 
home  use  or  for  exportation  ;  and  no  country  is  better  suited  for  the 
dairy.  These  are  advantages  to  a  new  country,  which  are  incal- 
culable, and  afford  the  means  of  bringing  thousands  of  acres  into 
cidtivation.  For  my  own  part,  after  having  seen  great  part  of  the 
United  States,  and  resided  six  years  in  the  Genesee  Country  ;  seen 
it  a  dreary  wilderness,  and  seeing  it  now  possess  every  comfort 
man  can  desire,  w^ho  divests  himself  of  the  foibles  and  follies  of 
large  cities,  I  mus^^  decidedly  give  this  country  the  preference. 
With  a  moderate  climate,  it  is  in  this  country  as  Yorkshire  is  to 
England  :  it  is  near  enough  to  the  large  cities  to  draw  a  revenue 
from  their  markets,  but  too  distant  to  be  affected  by  their  vices 
and  follies.  A  little  industry  will  make  the  roads  excellent,  in  a 
country  w^here,  for  sixty  miles  in  any  direction,  you  cannot  find  a 
mountain  or  a  swamp,  or  any  barren  land  ;  and  thick  population 
will  give  conveniencies  and  luxuries.  Our  vicinity  to  Maryland 
and  Pennsylvania  procures  us  the  finest  horses  in  America  ;  and  we 
have  had  the  same  advantages  in  a  breed  of  cattle  from  New^- 
England.     The  lakes  and  rivers  supply  us  abundantly  with  fish, 

•Since  the  army  left  the  Western  Territory,  all  grain  has  fallen  in  price,  so 
as  not  to  be  worth  the  raising,  except  for  the  consumption  of  the  inhabitants, 
while  all  European  goods  and  salt  are  very  dear.  It  will  take  the  produce  of 
one  acre  to  buy  a  pair  of  breeches. 


WESTERN  NEW-YORK.        *  1155 

the  woods  with  venison,*  the  maple  tree  with  sugar,!  and  our 
industry  with  abundance  oi  grain. 

The  most  convenient  route  for  Europeans  to  come  to  the  Genesee 
Country  will  be  to  land  at  New- York ;  they  will  with  much  ease 
reach  Albany  by  water,  and  from  thence  they  can  either  hire 
wagons  or  take  navigation  by  the  canals,  or  the  Mohawk  River,  to 
Geneva.  Unless  the  water  be  in  good  order,  I  should  certainly 
prefer  the  land  journey.  A  waggon,  with  two  oxen  and  two 
*  horses  will  go  twenty  miles  per  day  with  a  load  of  30  cwt.  The 
accommodation  by  the  state  road  will  be  found  very  good  ;  and 
should  any  accident  happen  on  the  road,  assistance  can  be  procured 
at  every  stage.  The  great  secret  of  moving  with  facility  is  to 
c^rry  nothing  but  bedding,  clothes,  and  cooking  materials ;  all  the 
ai tides  of  household  furniture  can  be  procured  in  the  cotmtry  at 
less  expense  than  would  carry  it  from  the  coast. 

I  am,  8lc 

LETTER  VI. 

Dear  Sir, 

The  Genesee  Country,  I  find  has  not  failed  to  engage  the 
attention  of  foreigners,  and  those  from  Great-Britain  in  particular. 
Alany  respectable  characters  from  that  part  of  the  world  ^have 
already  come  into  this  country,  with  the  intention  of  establisliing 
themselves  in  it ;  and  what  has  added  much  to  the  advantage  of 
emigrants  of  this  description,  is  the  law  passed  by  the  Legislature 
at  the  last  session,  by  which  foreigners,  though  aliens j  are  enabled 
to  hold  real  property  within  the  State  of  New-York.  This 
indulgence  shows  the  liberality  of  this  country,  and,  it  is  presumed 
in  the  present  state  of  Europe,  is  a  circumstance  in  its  favour  that 
will  not  be  overlooked  by  tho^e  w^ho  may  wish  to  secure  an 
asylum  for  themselves  or  their  families  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic. 
To  such,  this  pait  of  the  United  States  is  particularly  suited.  The 
climate  and  soil  are  by  no  means  inferior  to  their  own,  ami  the 
laws  and  customs  of  the  State  of  New-York  bear  a  striking 

*For  three  several  years  back  five  hundred  deer  have  been  killed  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Bath  annually. 

I  A  settlement  of  fifteen  families,  in  No.  4,  seventh  range,  made  this  year 
two  tons  of  sug-ar  from  the  maple  tree,  some  families  made  bOV  ib. 


1156  •      PAPERS   RELATI^Jd  TO 

resemblance  to  those  of  England.  In  this  delightful  country, 
societies  of  old  countrymen  have  it  in  their  power  to  choose 
fertile  situations  for  their  establishments,  where  they  may  indulge 
their  own  fancy  as  to  the  arrangement  of  their  respective  farms, 
and  where  they  can  enjoy  without  interruption,  their  own  mannerf? 
and  customs.  To  these  distinct  establishments,  the  laws  and 
customs  of  the  country  are  highly  favourable.  In  many  instances 
such  societies  are  found  for  half  a  century  to  have  preserved  their 
native  language  in  great  pm-ity.  Though  these  circumstances  may 
appear  trifling,  yet  they  are  of  material  consequence  to  the  comfort 
of  those  who  change  their  country  at  a  period  of  life  when  both 
habits  and  manners  are  formed,  and  to  those  who  have,  by 
prudential  motives,  been  induced  to  change  their  country,  but  who 
cannot,  with  the  same  facility,  change  their  feelings  as  men. 

On  a  plan  similar  to  the  one  above  mentioned,  a  Scotch  settle- 
ment was  projected  two  years  ago,  and  a  considerable  number  of 
persons  of  that  country  have  already  joined  it.  This  settlement 
is  formed  on  the  west  side  of  the  Genesee  River,  about  eight  milej* 
from  the  River,  and  is  called  Caledonia.  The  village  is  built 
around  a  remarkable  spring,  which  issues  from  a  limestone  rockj 
and  forms  a  body  of  water  covering  about  two  acres,  from  whence 
a  stream  takes  its  rise  sufficiently  powerful  to  work,  at  a  short 
distance  from  the  spring,  a  set  of  merchant  mills.  The  plan  for 
this  settlement  occupies  about  ten  thousand  acres,  distributed  in 


the  following  manner 

For  the  ministry   100  acres 

For  the  school,  about   60 

Ten  gentlemen,  500  acres  each   5,000 

Ten  farmers,  100  acres  each   1,000 

Forty  farmers,  78  acres  each   3,120 

For  the  village,  sixty  lots  of  12  acres  each. 720 


10,000  acres. 

Men  of  property  anxious  to  secure  to  their  families  estates  in 
America^wiW  experience  great  satisfaction  in  joining  their  country- 
men, perhaps  their  former  friends  and  neighbours,  in  such  a  colony. 
They  can,  as  opportunity  offers,  improve  their  respective  purchases, 


WESTERN  NEW-YORK.  1157 

according  to  their  fancy ;  and  they  wilt  not  only  enjoy  advantages 
from  their  own  industry,  but  finally  be  enriched  by  the  industry  of 
their  neighbours.  Those  who  have  been  born  to  labour  for  their 
livelihood,  with  a  few  years  continuance  of  the  same  industry  as 
was  necessary  for  their  existence  in  Europe,  will  find  themselves 
rich  and  independant  ;  and  at  their  death,  instead  of  leaving  their 
families,  as  is  generally  the  case  in  Europe,  the  same  hard  and 
scanty  means  of  existence,  they  will  leave  them  real  property,  and 
the  means,  by  industry,  of  living  in  ease  and  plenty. 

At  the  most  early  period  of  the  settlement  of  this  country, 
establishments  were  formed  at  much  difficulty  and  at  great  expense; 
and  even  money  could  not  obviate  the  difficulties  emigrants  had  to 
encounter.  During  the  two  first  years  my  companions  and  myself 
scarcely  ever  slept  in  a  bed,  and  could  seldom  command  the 
common  necessaries  of  life.  But  the  exploring  of  the  navigations, 
removing  the  incidental  obstructions,  opening  roads,  and  building 
mills,  not  only  procured  an  easy  supply  of  necessaries,  but,  by 
inducing  a  rapid  settlement,  ensured  the  cultivation  of  the  country. 
What  would  four  years  ago  have  been  impracticable,  is  now  easy  ; 
and  all  the  new  settlers  are  supplied  with  every  necessary  at 
moderate  price.  Mechanics  of  every  description.are  to  be  found 
throughout  the  country,  and  no  country  was  ever  so  well  supplied 
with  mills. 

It  is  necessary  for  all  those  who  propose  removing  to  new 
settlements,  to  make  a  calculation  of  the  expence  of  their  removal, 
and  the  quantity  of  provisions  which  will  he  necessary,  until  they 
can  raise  crops  from  their  own  labour.  The  great  object  is  to 
reach  their  respective  destinations  as  near  the  opening  of  the  spring 
as  possible,  as  their  cattle  will  then  in  a  short  time  be  provided  for 
without  any  expence,  and  in  a  very  few  months  they  can  reap  the 
fruits  of  their  industry.  The  European  must  expect  to  encounter 
difficulties ;  but  the  greatest  of  these,  perhaps,  will  be  to  overcome 
his  prejudices  in  favour  of  the  customs  of  his  own  country.  A 
Iktle  observation  will,  however,  convince  him  that  the  most  ordinary 
customs  of  the  country  have  not  been  adopted  without  good  reason, 
and  by  no  means  should  be  deviated  from  by  new  settlers. 

Jl  i.s  a  trv.<^  ob^jervatjon  that,  practice  and  example  are  ^'ver  Xo 


1158  PAPERS  RELATING  TO 

be  more  depended  on  than  theory.  I  shall  therefore,  to  be  some 
guide  in  your  future  business,  give  you  a  short  detail  of  the  opera- 
tions of  a  gentleman  who  left  England  only  last  April,  and  settled 
himself  in  the  Genesee  Country,  where  he  is  now  comfortably 
established.  M.  B.  left  England  early  in  April,  and  arrived  with 
his  family  at  New-York,  about  the  middle  of  May  :  afier  having 
purchased  a  few  necessary  articles  at  New- York,  he  took  a  passage 
for  himself  and  his  family,  on  board  an  Albany  sloop,  and  in  two 
ilays  he  arrived  in  Albany  ;  from  thence  he  went,  by  land  to 
Schenectady,  a  small  town  o;i  the  Mohawk  River,  sixteen  miles 
from  Albany,  where  he  engaged  a  three  ton  boat  to  carry  him  to 
Geneva,  at  which  place  he  arrived  early  in  June.  Mr.  B.  from  the 
plan  of  the  country,  had  selected  a  lot  of  six  hundred  and  forty 
acres,  situated  on  the  east  side  of  the  w^est  branch  of  the  Crooked 
Lake.  On  viewing  this  spot,  Mr.  B.  who  is  a  man  of  observation, 
saw,  notwithstanding  its  perfect  state  of  nature,  both  its  beauties 
and  advantages  :  he  found  it  extending  one  mile  on  the  lake,  from 
which  the  ground  rose  wdth  a  sufficient  ascent,  of  a  rich  soil,  and 
a  fine  stream  of  water  nearly  intersecting  the  lot.  He  immedi- 
ately fixed  on  a  situation  for  his  buildings  and  garden,  and  marked 
reserves  of  handsome  trees  in  different  places  so  as  to  give- it  the 
appearance  of  an  English  country-seat,  Mr.  B.  having  fixed  his 
family  at  Geneva,,  procured  five  young  men  to  begin  clearing  off 
the  timber  around  the  place  allotted  for  his  buildings,  and  also  to 
put  in  a  field  of  wheat.  This  gentleman,  although  unused  to 
business  of  the  kind,  by  the  end  of  October  had  put  into  the 
ground  forty  acres  of  wheat  in  good  order  ;  and  before  the  first  of 
December  had  his  house  finished  for  the  reception  of  his  family 
The  continuance  of  the  same  exertion  for  one  season  more,  will 
place  this  gentleman  in  a  situation  that  his  family  \y\\\  be  abundantly 
supplied  with  all  the  necessaries  thnt  a  farm  can  be  supposed  to 
furnish  in  any  country  ;  and  he  will  have  the  satisfaction  to  reflect, 
lhat  he  owes  it  entirely  to  his  own  exertion  and  industry. 

I  am  &c. 


WESTERN  NEW-YORK, 


1159 


LETTER  VIL 
Dear  Sir,  , 

The  different  communications  hy  water  from  the  Genesee  Coantiy 
to  the  sea  I  shall  endeavour  to  explain  to  you  in  as  few  words  as 
possible.  From  the  country  known  by  that  name  there  are  three 
that  are  now  used.  1st.  To  Baltimore  by  the  Susquhannah ; 
2d.  To  Albany  by  the  Seneca  and  Mohawk  Rivers;  3d.  To 
Montreal  by  Lake  Ontario  and  the  River  St.  Lawrence ;  and  from 
the  south-Avest  part  of  the  country  boats  may  descend  the 
Allegany  River,  which  is  a  branch  of  the  Ohio,  to  New  Orleans. 

The  Susquehannah  enters  the  Chesapeak  Ray  at  Havre  de  Grace. 
Few  rivers  embrace  a  greater  extent  of  country  within  its  various 
branches  ;  and  none  afford  better  navigation  to  so  near  their  source. 
At  Northumberland  the  west  and  north  branches  of  this  river 
meet,  affording  a  very  advantageous  situation  for  tiade.  The 
branch  which  heads  in  the  Genesee  Country  makes,  from  Northum- 
berland, a  course  almost  directly  north,  and  is  called  the  North 
Branch.  At  Tioga  Point  a  junction  is  termed  between  the  vraters 
of  the  Otsego  Lake,  known  by  the  name  of  the  East  Branch  of 
the  Susquehannah,  and  Tioga  R.iver,  and  form  a  situation  very 
similar  to  that  of  Northumberland.  At  the  Painted  Post,  a  small 
village  on  the  most  easterly  bounds  of  Steuben  county,  the'  dilTerent 
branches  of  the  Tioga,  or  Chemung  River,  form  a  junction,  and 
are  all  navigable  for  a  great  distance  into  the  Genesee  Country, 
The  Conhocton  River  rises  in  the  north-west  part  of  the  County  of 
Steuben,  and  taking  a  southeasterly  course,  passes  the  town  of  Bath, 
the  county  town,  to  which  place  it  is  navigable  for  boats  of  eight 
tons  :  about  five  miles  below  Bath  it  is  joined  by  ^lud  Creek,  so 
called  from  a  lake  that  forms  its  source ;  and  even  this  small  stream 
is  navigable  for  boats,  to  i\Ir.  Bartlcs's  mills,  built  on  the  outlet  of 
the  lake,  eleven  miles  from  its  mouth.  Mr.  Bartles,  from  these 
mills,  rafted  one  hundred  thousand  feet  of  lumber,  last  spring,  to 
Baltimore,  by  the  Susquehannah,  and  found  the  business  so 
advantageous,  that  he  is  now  preparing  a  much  larger  quantity  for 
the  same  market.    As  you  descend  the  Conhocton,  from  tlie 


1160 


PAPERS  RELATING  TO 


accession  of  many  streams,  the  navigation  betters,  until  you  reach 
the  main  river  at  the  Painted  Post. 

Tlie  Canisteo.  which  is  the  next  River  to  the  North,  rises  from 
a  marsh  in  the  north-west  corner  of  the  county  of  Steuben,  and, 
taking  a  south  east  course,  joins  the  Conhocton  at  the  Painted 
Post.  It  is  somewhat  singular,  that  this  river  is  navip^ablc  almost  to 
its  source.  From  the  opposite  side  of  the  marsh,  the  Canascraga 
also  has  its  source.  This  is  a  branch  of  the  Genesee  River,  which 
falls  into  the  River  St.  LawTence  ;  w^hile  the  Canisteo,  a  branch 
of  the  Susquehannah,  falls  into  the  Chesapeake  Both  are  navi- 
gable for  boats  of  ten  tons  to  Wthin  nine  miles  of  each  other,  and 
the  portage  now  in  use  may,  w^ith  very  trifling  labour,  be  reduced 
to  five  miles.  The  navigation  of  the  Canisteo  has  been  more  used 
than  any  of  the  other  branches  of  the  Susquehannah  that  water  the 
Genesee  Country,  and  has  added  much  to  facilitate  the  moving  of 
the  Pennsylvania  emigrants  ;  but  the  recent  settlement  of  the 
country  has  not  permitted  them  even  to  clear  out,  much  less 
improve  the  navigation  in  the  manner  it  will  admit  of. 

This  country  has  now^  drawn  the  attention  of  some  very  resj^ec- 
table  characters  in  the  mercantile  towns  on  the  Susquehannah,  and 
at  Baltimore  ;  and  there  is  no  doubt  but  the  farmers  will  be  induced 
to  turn  their  attention  to  those  articles  w^hich  are  most  in  demand 
.  in  the.  markets  on  the  coast.  One  of  the  most  respectable 
mercantile  houses  in  Baltimore  made  a  purchase,  last  year,  near 
Tioga  Point,  in  order  to  draw  to  that  quarter  the  trade  of  the 
western  country  :  they  have  built  a  set  of  mills,  and  are  establishing 
an  extensive  work  for  the  manufacturing  of  ship  cordage.  If  we 
consider  the  vast  body  of  rich  flats  on  the  Susquehannah,  where 
its  various  branches  pass  the  Genesee  Country,  and  the  ease  with 
which  the  produce  of  the  Genesee  River  can  be  brought  to  the 
navigable  part  of  the  Canisteo,  it  will  appear  that  the  quanity  of 
hemp  which  may  be  collected  at  Tioga  Point,  or  the  Painted 
Post  wuH  be  incalculable.  The  flats  on  the  Genesee  River  and 
Canascraga  Creek  alone,  cannot  be  estimated  at  less  than  eighty 
miles  in  length,  and  about  two  in  breadth,  forming  a  body  of  about 
eighty  thousand  acres  :  and  every  acre  is,  I  suppose,  eighteen  feet 
Jeep  of  black  mould.    In  ?uch  land  the  Indians  raise  one  hundred 


WEISTERN  NEW- YORK. 


116^ 


})uslieis  oi  com  on  an  acre,  and  ihey  never  have  been  known  to 
make  any  change  of  the  spot.  Where  such  land  under  proper 
management,  and  turned  to  the  cultivation  of  hemp  and  flax,  the 
returns  would  be  immense.  To  forward  this  object,  it  is  intended, 
this  season,  to  begin  an  establishment  at  the  extremity  of  the 
navigation  of  the  Canisteo  ;  and  to  induce  the  farmers  on  the 
Genesee  River  to  cultivate  hemp  and  flax,  proper  boats  will  be* 
provided  to  carry  those  articles  to  market.  To  those  who  object 
that  three  hundred  and  flfty  four  miles*  is  too  lengthy  an  inland 
navigation  to  carry  such  bulky  acticles  to  market,  I  reply,  that  the 
United  States  are  at  present  supplied  with  hemp  from  Russia,  and 
that  it  there  bears  an  inland  navigation  of  one  thousand  two 
hundred  miles  before  it  reaches  a  sea-port. 

Some  years  ago  the  high  price  of  floi;r  and  lumber  at  Baltimore, 
induced  a  Mr.  Kryder,  a  farmer  on  the  Juniata  River  to  try  an 
experiment  in  the  mode  of  transporting  flour  from  his  mills  to 
Baltimore  :  he  built  a  sort  of  a  boat,  which  he  called  a?i  Ark  ;  it 
was  long  and  flat,  and  constructed  of  very  large  timber,  such  as  he 
supposed  would  suit  the  purpose  of  builders.  This  vessel,  or  float, 
carried  three  hundred  barrels  of  flour.  This  man  had  the  courage 
to  push  through  a  navigation  then  unknown,  and  arrived  safe  at 
Baltimore,  where  he  received  from  the  merchants  a  premium  of 
one  dollar  above  the  market  price  for  every  barrel.  Thus 
encouraged — the  same  person  has  been  down  every  year  since,  an  l 
has  made  so  considerable  improvement  on  this  sort  of  boat,  that 
arks  are  now  used  which  carry  five  hundred  barrels.  From  the 
most  diligent  inquiry,  and  from  the  ease  with  which  Mr.  Bartles 
carried  down  his  lumber  last  spring,  there  does  not  exist  a  doubt 
but  that  the  navigation  of  the  Conhocton  and  Canisteo  serve 
for  boats  of  this  kind,  carrying  from  three  to  five  hundred  barrels. 
As  they  are  never  intended  to  be  used  but  for  descending  in  high 
water,  they  are  navigated  with  few  hands,  and  go  down  with  great 
rapidity.  It  is  intended  that  two  shall  go  from  the  county  of 
Steuben  this  season  :  they  will  be  loaded  with  valuable  lumber,  and 
a  few  fat  bullocks.    It  is  supposed  they  will  reach  the  tide  water, 


•  *  The  ♦Usitance  fro»3  the  bead  at  the  Canisteo  to  Havre  de  Grace. 


1162  PAPERS  RELATING  TO 

at  Havre  de  Grace,  in  five  days.  In  a  few  years,  flour,  and  every 
other  article  of  produce  in  demand  at  the  sea-ports,  will  be  sen! 
ihe  same  way.  In  every  other  back  country  of  Amerii-a,  where 
there  exists  a  possibility  of  sending  the  spare  provisions  abroad, 
particularly  on  the  0/«o,  the  difficulty  of  procuring  salt  to  cure 
the  beef  and  pork  will  prevent  these  branches  of  farming  from 
yielding  any  profit.  The  situation  of  the  Genesee  Country,  and, 
mdeed,  the  whole  western  part  of  tlie  State  of  New- York,  is,  in 
this  respect,  highly  advantageous.  It  is  supplied  with  salt  in  such 
ibundance,  that  the  price  is  not  higher  than  on  the  sea  coast ;  and 
the  intermediate  country,  till  within  one  hundred  miles  of  tide- 
water, is  also  supplied  from  these  works.*  Thousands  of  barrels 
pass  every  year  through  the  Genesee  Country,  for  the  use  of 
settlements  fifty  years  established,  and  one  hundred  miles  nearer  to 
the  sea  coast.  So  highly  are  these  waters  impregnated  with  salt, 
that  eight  pounds  of  water,  when  evaporated,  make  one  pound  of 
pure  salt  ;  and  the  springs  are  so  abundant,  that  it  was  calculated 
by  a  very  ingenious  and  correct  gentleman,  that  from  a  single 
spring  three  hundred  thousand  bushels  might  be  made  in  one  year  ; 
and  at  least  tw^enty  springs  are  now  used. — 'But  to  return  to  the 
navigation. 

The  south  branch  of  the  Tioga 'has  a  north  course  from  the 
Alleghany  Mountains,  and  joins  the  Conhocton  and  Canisteo  at 
the  Painted  Post,  as  also  does  the  Tuscarora  and  Cowanisque. 
These  streams,  at  this  uniting  place,  form  a  great,  and,  in  time  of 
high  water,  a  magnificent  river.  From  this  place  boats  of  any 
size  could  be  sent  to  Baltimore ;  there  being  to  this  navigation  no 
interruptions  of  consequence  until  we  get  below  Wright's  Ferry  ; 
from  which  place  for  Havre  de  Grace  the  State  of  Maryland  is 
making  great  exertions  to  render  the  navigation  safe  and  beneficial 
to  the  trade  of  Ballraore.  The  method  which  tl^e  gentlemen 
employed  in  this  business  has  taken  will,  I  have  no  doubt,  be 
crowned  with  success.    The  obstructions  are  formed  by  bars  of 

•  Of  so  much  importance  did  these  salt-works  appear  to  the  Government 
that,  two  years  ago,  they  took  the  business  entirely  under  their  own  diieclion, 
and  appointed  a  Comnnssioner  to  superintend  the  salt-makers,  and  restricted 
tlie  price  to  sixty  cents  per  bushel,  at  which  they  are  obliged,  by  their 
contract,  to  supply  the  country. 


WESTEli^'  KEVv'-YOIlK. 


1163 


limestone  rock,  running  across  the  river,  from  east  to  west,  and  the 
whole  water  of  the  river  pours  over  them.  In  the  dry  seasons, 
the  drift  wood  which  collects  on  these  ledges,  is  gathered  and  piled 
on  the  rocks,  and  burnt  until  they  become  quite  heated  :  water  i? 
then  thrown  on  them,  when  they  immediately  split  into  pieces  :  the 
rocks  are  then  broke  up  and  thrown  into  the  pools  below.  These 
breaches  are  made  one  hundred  yards  in  length,  so  as  to  allow 
rafts  of  any  size  to  pass  with  safety.  Large  subscriptions  have 
been  made  to  carry  on  these  works ;  and  there  is  no  doubt  but  a 
few  years  perseverance  will  complete  a  safe  navigation  from  the 
head  of  the  Canisteo  to  Baltimore. 

The  navigation  from  the  county  of  Ontario  to  Schenectady, 
sixteen  miles  from  Albany,  has  been  of  late  years  much  improved, 
and  is  of  great  advantage  to  that  part  of  the  country.  The  outlets 
of  Seneca  Lake,  Canadarqua  Lake,  and  Mud  Creek,  join  together, 
and  form  the  Seneca  River,  which,  through  its  whole  extent^  is  a 
very  useful  navigation.  At  the  Three  River  Point  it  is  met  by  the 
outlet  of  the  Oneida  Lake,  and,  after  passing  Oneida  Lake,  the 
boats  ascend  Mud  Creek,  Irom  which  there  is  a  canal,  to  unite  its 
waters  with  the  Mohawk  Ri^  er,  on  which  two  otlier  obstructions 
are  canalled,  to  make  the  communication  good  to  Schenectady. 
These  improvements  are  made  on  the  scale  of  boats  carryhig 
ten  tons  being  used  on  this  navigation.  Considerable  qunntiiies  of 
flour,  potash,  and  salt,  are  every  year  sent  down  by  this  navigatioii, 
and  thus  the  merchants  are  enabled  to  make  their  remittances.  So 
much  has  the  navigation  been  used,  that  one  hundi'ed  boats  have 
been  known  to  arrive  at  the  little  town  of  Geneva  in  six  week.^. 
In  the  beginning  of  the  settlement  of  this  country,  families,  moving 
in  these  boats,  suffered  much  from  want  of  shelter  in  the  Jiight  ; 
but  the  number  of  travellers  has  induced  persons  to  settle  and 
keep  taverns  at  the  most  suitable  places,  where  the  accommodations 
are  far  from  being  bad. 

The  navigation  from  the  interior  county  of  Ontario  into  the  lake 
of  the  same  name,  is  by  the  Genesee,  Rundigut,  and  Seneca  Rivers. 
The  Seneca  River  is  formed  by  the  waters  of  the  Seneca  Lake, 
Canadarqua  Lake,  Mud  Creek,  and  the  Cayuga  Lake,  each  of 
which  are  large  and  deep  streams,  affording  great  convenience 


ilb4 


PAPERS  RELATING  TO 


to  the  country  adjoining  them  :  these  meet  the  Oswego  River  at 
Three  River  Point,  which  falls  into  Lake  Ontario  at  Oswego  Fort. 
The  importance  of  this  place  induced  the  Legislature  of  the  State 
of  New  York  to  lay  out  a  town,  which  already  affords  great  conve- 
nience to  persons  trading  to  and  from  Canada. 

The  Rundigut  lies  about  five  miles  east  of  the  Genesee  River, 
and  runs  into  the  country  about  six  miles  :  at  the  south  extremity, 
of  the  bay  Rundigut  Creek  forms  a  very  handsome  fall  of  about 
twenty  feet,  affording  a  fine  situation  for  mills,  which  may  be  so 
placed  that  boats  might  be  navigated  from  Canada  to  the  mill,  and 
there  loaded  without  any  trouble.  A  convenient  store-house  has 
already  been  built,  and,  during  the  two  last  summers,  very 
considerable  quantities  of  provisions  and  distilled  liquor  were  sent 
from  this  place  to  Canada.  In  the  neighbourhood  of  this  place 
are  several  bodies  of  iron  ore,*  and  it  is  presumed  that  works 
will  soon  be  established  for  the  making  of  iron. 

The  Genesee  River  is  navigable  for  sloops  of  sixty  tons  from 
the  lake  to  the  falls,  a  distance  of  six  miles.  These  falls,  which 
are  formed  by  a  continuance  of  the  san>e  ridge  that  forms  the  Falls 
of  Niagara,  are  a  succession  of  four  distinct  falls  within  the  space 
of  one  mile  :  the  highest  is  ninety  feet,  but,  with  the  rapids  above, 
the  total  height  is  three  hundred  feet.  These  falls,  for  beauty,  are 
not  inferior  to  those  of  Niagara.  A  carrying  place  is  made  on 
the  west  side  of  the  river,  and  it  has  already  a  considerable 
employment.  Immediately  above  the  falls  the  river  is  navigable 
for  large  boats,  and  continues  so  for  twenty-five  miles  above 
Williarasburgh,  where  it  is  again  interrupted.  At  the  village  of 
Williamsburgh  the  Canascraga  Creek  joins  the  Genesee  River  : 
this  creek  affords  good  navigation  for  near  twenty  miles,  to 
Dansville,  a  settlement  in  the  north  west  corner  of  Steuben  county, 
only  nine  miles  from  the  navigable  waters  of  the  Caniskeo  River. 
The  quantity  of  provisions  and  distilled  liquor  sent  from  the  mouth 
of  the  Genesee  River  is  very  considerable.  Last  summer  a  small 
vessel  was  kept  in  constant  employment  in  this  business. 

♦Iron  can  be  brought,  by  the  Susquehannah,  from  Pennsylvania  to  Geneva 
or  Bath,  and  afforued  at  nearly  the  same  price  it  is  sold  for  in  New-York  or 

PULUilelphia. 


WESTERN    NEWYORBL.  1165 

The  counties  of  Ontario  and  Steubea  have  also  the  advantage 
of  being,  by  a  particular  law,  exempted  from  all  taxation  for 
sixteen  years  from  the  year  1790  ;  so  that,  until  the  year  1806, 
they  are  free  of  all  pubhc  burdens,  except  what  may  be  necessary 
for  the  support  of  their  internal  regulation  :  and  we  find  by  a 
late  Law  for  raising  by  a  direct  tax,  the  sum  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  thousand  dollars,  that  this  privilege  in  favour  of  these 
.counties  is  expressly  guaranted. 

LETTER  VIIL 

Dear  Sir, 

I  Shall  now  endeavour  to  give  you  some  idea  of  the  route  aud 
distance  to  the  Genesee  Counlr)'  from  the  city  of  New-York. 

There  are  shorter  roads  than  by  Albany,  but  this  route  beuig 
the  best  and  most  convenient,  the  additional  travelling  is  fully 
compensated  for.  During  the  summer  months  sloops  are  constantly 
passing  from  New-York  to  Albany  :  they  generally  run  the  distance 
in  two  days  ;  and  sometimes  in  one.  The  road  from  Albany  to  the 
westward  goes  by  Schenectady  and  the  Mohawk  River ;  but  at 
Utica,  ninety-six  miles  from  Albany,  it  is  intersected  by  the  Great 
Genesee  Road,  at  w^hich  place  you  are  ninety-nine  miles  from 
Geneva,  the  whole  of  which  distance  you  will  find  a  well  settled 
country  ;  but,  for  your  guide  in  making  comfortable  stages,  T  have 
annexed  a  hst  of  the  best  taverns  on  the  road,  with  their  respective 
distance  from  each  oher. 

Should  curiosity  induce  you  to  visit  the  Falls  of  Niagara,  you 
will  proceed  from  Geneva,  by  the  State  Road,  to  the  Genesee 
River,  which  you  will  cross  at  New-Hartford,  west  of  which  you 
will  find  the  country  settled  for  about  twelve  miles  ;  but  after  that, 
for  sixty-five  miles,  to  Niagara  River,  the  country  still  remains  a 
wilderness.  This  road  was  used  so  much  last  year  by  people  on 
business,  or  by  those  whom  curiosity  had  led  to  visit  the  Falls  of 
Niagara,  that  a  station  was  fixed  at  the  Big  Plains  to  shelter 
travellers.  At  this  place  there  are  two  roads  that  lead  to  Niagara 
River ;  the  south  road  goes  by  Buffalo  Creek,  the  other  by 
Tanawandoe  Village  to  Queen's  Town  Landing.  The  road  by 
Buftalo  Creek  is  most  used  both  because  it  is  better  and  because 


1166  PAPERS   RELATING  TO 

it  commands  a  view  of  Lake  Erie  ;  and  the  road  from  this  to  the 
Falls  is  along  the  banks  of  Niagara  River,  a  very  interesting  ride. 
The  river  is  in  no  place  less  than  a  mile  over  and  the  picture  is 
enlivened  by  a  variety  of  landscapes.  Niagara  River  is  the  only 
outlet  of  Lake  Superior,  and  all  those  immense  lakes  that  afford,  from 
ihe  falls,  an  uninterrupted  navigation  of  near  two  thousand  miles  to 
'he  westward.  As  you  approach  Chippaway,  a  military  station  two 
miles  above  the  falls,  the  rapidity  of  the  river  increases,  bounding  to 
a  great  height  where  it  meets  witb  resistance  from  the  inequality 
of  the  surface  ;  and  this  vast  body  of  water  at  last  rushes  over 
a  precipice  of  one  hundred  and  seventy  feet.  The  falls  can  be 
v  iewed  from  several  different  places  :  but  they  are  seen  to  most 
advantage  below.  You  can  with  safety,  approach  the  very  edge 
of  the  fall,  and  may  even  go  some  distance  between  the  sheet  of 
falling  water  and  the  precipice  ;  but  this  experiment  requires 
caution ;  the  footing  is  unequal  and  slippery ;  and  blasts  of 
condensed  air  rush  out  with  such  violence  as  to  deprive  you,  for 
some  moments  of  the  power  of  bre^ithing.  From  the  falls  to 
Queens-Town,  the  nearest  place  to  which  shipping  approach  the 
falls,  the  river  is  confined  within  a  chasm  in  the  rocks,  one  hundred 
and  fifty  feet  deep,  and  to  all  appearance  cut  out  by  the  force  of 
the  water.  Queens- Town  is  a  neat  village,  and  has  all  the  appear- 
ance of  a  sea-port  :  it  is  not  uncommon  to  see  at  that  place  several 
brigs  of  one  hundred,  tons  burthen,  and  many  smaller  vessels. 
The  territory  opposite  to  Queens-Town,  on  the  east  side,  is  a 
reservation  belonging  to  the  State  of  New-York,  which  the 
Legislature  directed  the  Surveyor-General  to  lay  out  into  small 
lots,  for  the  accommodation  of  settlers.  This  place  is  the  key  to 
the  trade  of  the  w^estern  lakes,  and  numbers  of  teams  are  daily 
employed  between  it  and  Chippaway  :  the  distance  by  the  carrying 
place  now  in  use,  on  the  Brittish  side,  is  eleven  miles:  the  carrying 
place  formerly  in  use,  on  the  American"side,  was  only  six  miles; 
but  the  mountain  forming  the  falls  is  more  abrupt. 

Some  persons,  interested  in  the  countries  beyond  the  falls,  bad 
this  interruption  to  the  navigation  examined  by  a  very  respectable 
engineer,  for  the  purpose  of  discovering  the  practicability  of  making 
a  canal  to  open  the  navigation  of  the  western  lakes.    The  fall 


WESTERN  KEW-YORK. 


1167 


wms  found  to  be  three  hundred  and  twenty  feet  from  Stecdman-s 
Landing,  above  the  falls,  to  Queens-Town  Landing  below  :  the 
distance  to  be  cut  did  not  exceed  four  miles,  nearly  three  of  uhich 
is  on  level  with  the  navigable  part  of  the  river  above  the  falls. 

1  am,  &c. 

The  principal  Taverns  on  the  Road  from  Albany  to  Geneva,  and 
from  thence  to  Niagara,  with  their  Distances. 


Albany  to  Schenectady,   16 

Schenectady  to  Bents,.   14 

Bent's  to  ,   10 

De  wight's,   16 

Hudson's  Indian  Castle,   14 

Aldridges,  German-Flats,   10 

[lotel,  Fort-Schuyler,   16 

—  9d 

From  Fort-Schuyler  to  Laird's  on  the  ) 
Great  Genesee  Road  ^ 

Van  Epp's,  near  the  Oneida  Reservation,   6 

Wemp's,  in  the  Oneida  Reservation,   6 

Sills's,  at  the  Deep  Spring,   11 

Keelers,  junior,   12 

Tyler's,  Onondago  Hollow,     10 

Rice's,  Nine  raile  Creek,   10 

Cayuga  Ferry,.   20 

Powel's  Hotel,  Geneva,   13 

—  98 

From  Geneva  to  Canadarqua. 

Sanburn's,   16 

Searson's,  on  the  State  Road,   14 

New-Hartford,   11 

Peterson's,  at  the  Big  Spring,   6 

Gan  son's,   6 

To  the  Station  on  the  Big  Plain,   27 

To  Buffalo  Creek,..,   43 

—  123 

Miles,  317 


1168  PAPT5RS  RKLATlNt;   TO  ^S'liST'ERN   NEW  VORK. 


% 'The  foilowing:  note  from  the  Hon:  John  Greio  to  T.  Rombyn  Bbcjk  Vntq. 
M.  D.  indicating  the  author  ot  the  foregoing^  Tract,  is  annexed  to  the  copy  in 
the  State  Library. 

«  Canandaksua  29,  October  1846 

My  dear  Sir, 

I  am  favoured  with  your  letter  of  the  27,  instant — 
I  very  well  remember  the  Pamphlet  on  the  "  Settlement  of  the 
Genesee  Country"  to  which  you  refer,  and  my  own  recollection  of 
it,  and  of  tlie  Author  of  it,  is  fortified  by  that  of  Judge  Howell,  to 
whom  I  have  shewn  your  letter. 

It  was  written  by  Capt.  Charles  Williamson,  who  came  to  this 
country  as  the  Agent  of  Sir  W"^  Pulteney  and  Governor  Hornby, 
for  tlie  settlefnent  of  their  Lands  in  the  Western  part  of  the  State 
of  New- York,  in  the  year  1792.  He  remained  as  their  Agent  until 
the  year  1802,  when  he  returned  to  Europe-  He  afterwards  made 
occasional  visits  to  this  Country,  until  the  year  1807,  when  he 
died  of  the  yellow  fever  while  on  a  mission  from  the  British 
'Governmept  to  the  Havanna. 

Believe  me  with  much  regard 

Yours  Sincerely. 
John  Grkk;. 


f 


